Argentina Arrived for the Final. They Never Showed Up on the Pitch

Spain are world champions after beating Argentina 1–0! The final was supposed to be a grand showdown between Messi and Yamal. Instead, it became a 120-minute search for Argentina’s attack. Across the opening 90 minutes, the Albiceleste failed to register a single shot. Not on target, not off target. Nothing at all.

If not for Emiliano Martínez and his ten saves, this final would have been over much sooner. Argentina’s goalkeeper single-handedly kept his team alive, while Messi and Álvarez mainly performed as spectators with the best seats in the stadium. In stoppage time, Enzo Fernández received his second yellow card, as if Argentina had decided that having eleven players on the pitch was simply excessive.

The sentence was finally delivered in the 106th minute. Ferran Torres made Spain’s advantage count and scored the goal that secured the World Cup. Barça will, of course, be quick to remind everyone where Ferran plays his club football. The part about Spain spending more than 100 minutes trying to break through Argentina’s wall may not make the official announcement.

Spain completely dominated the final. Argentina defended their title from so deep that at times it was difficult to tell whether they had made it onto the pitch at all. The trophy is heading to Europe, while the Albiceleste return home after producing one of the most invisible performances ever seen in a World Cup final.

Spain 1–0 Argentina (after extra time)
Goal: Ferran Torres, 106th minute
Turning point: Enzo Fernández received his second yellow card in the 93rd minute. Argentina were reduced to ten men, and Spain finally turned their complete dominance into a winning goal in extra time.