As FIFA explains on its website, supporters voted after each round. Following the final, they selected players from the previous winners as well as additional candidates nominated by the organisers. FIFA also retained the right to “confirm” the results. Vozinha was chosen in goal, with Pedro Porro, Upamecano, Lisandro Martínez and Cucurella in defence. Rodri, Olise and Bellingham formed the midfield, while Haaland, Messi and Mbappé completed the attack. Unai Simón, officially the best goalkeeper at the World Cup, can also enjoy looking at the team on FIFA’s website.

Of course, votes like this are closer to popularity contests than serious tournament analysis. Barcelona can therefore safely count Messi as one of their own, award Cubarsí a moral victory and blame the absence of everyone else on a global conspiracy. After all, Barça won the World Cup — unless someone asks for the names.

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.