A long wait in Spain for success in FIFA World Cup The 2026 final ended with an unlikely hero. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra-time to give Spain a 1-0 win over defending champions Argentina, sealing their second World Cup trophy. Lionel Messidream of keeping the crown.Torres scored in the 106th minute, just 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, to end a great Spanish performance that remained scoreless for 90 minutes despite constant pressure.
Torres saves when Spain need him the most
The winning goal came from a Spanish move. Pedro Porro floated across the penalty area, Nico Williams cleverly crossed the ball past the goal, and Torres timed it well before hitting a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.The strike broke Argentina’s resistance after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez pulled off a string of saves to keep his side out of the tournament.Spain dominated the proceedings, finishing with 15 shots in a row to Argentina’s none, while also getting nine corners to Argentina’s one. Lionel Scaloni’s team managed to survive to extra time despite spending long periods without the ball.Argentina’s performance was boosted when Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the second half for a second yellow card following a reckless tackle on Pau Cubarsi. Reduced to 10 men, the defenders were unable to recover from Torres’ breakthrough.The win also made Spain history by becoming the first country to hold both men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles at the same time.
Who is Ferran Torres?
Ferran Torres GarcÃa is a Spanish international footballer who plays for Barcelona and the Spain national team. Comfortable as a winger and centre-forward, Torres has built a reputation for smart movement, clinical finishing and saves in critical moments.The 26-year-old began his professional career with Valencia, making his senior debut in 2017 before moving to Manchester City in 2020. During his time in England, he won the Premier League and the EFL Cup under Pep Guardiola before joining Barcelona in January 2022.Although Torres was initially met with controversy when he arrived at the Camp Nou, he turned his fortunes around in the following years. He played a key role in Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign in 2024-25 and followed it up with his most successful season, scoring 21 goals to help the Catalan giants reclaim the La Liga title.Internationally, Torres went through Spain’s youth ranks before making his big debut in 2020. He represented La Roja at UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024, where Spain lifted the European Championship.Now, Torres has written his name in the legends of Spanish football. His extra-time win against Argentina not only secured Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title but also ensured that he will forever be remembered as the man who denied Lionel Messi and Argentina a historic World Cup victory.