Spain are World Cup champions once again, seeing off Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a final that, while lacking the drama of previous editions, showcased total control from start to finish. Ferran Torres struck the decisive goal from Spain’s twentieth shot of the match and remarkably, every single attempt on goal in the game came from Spain.
A One-Sided Final
For all the billing around Lionel Messi’s farewell World Cup appearance, the Argentine great was largely a spectator, only getting involved once his side belatedly and unsuccessfully searched for an equaliser. Spain outpassed Argentina by around 400 passes over the course of the match and had already been reduced to chasing shadows before Enzo Fernandez was sent off to leave Argentina down to ten men.
It capped a tournament in which Spain had already served notice of their superiority by dispatching France in the semi-final, keeping another clean sheet in the process. Even a goalless opening draw against Cape Verde a game missing both Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams through injury still carried the hallmarks of the passing style that would prove unstoppable.
Possession as a Defensive Weapon
Luis de la Fuente’s side had the majority of the ball in every one of their eight matches at this World Cup, including 74 per cent possession against Cape Verde alone. That control translated directly into defensive solidity Spain conceded just a single goal across the entire tournament.
Rodri anchored the midfield throughout, with Aymeric Laporte playing a crucial role shielding the back line, and Rodri was named the tournament’s best player, mirroring the honour he picked up at Euro 2024. Yet Spain’s success wasn’t built around any single individual it was a genuine collective effort.
Neville: “Possession Has Won This World Cup”
Speaking after the game, pundit Gary Neville praised De la Fuente’s bravery in withdrawing both Laporte and Rodri while the score was still level, calling the decision remarkable given how influential the pair had been defensively throughout the tournament. Neville pointed to the strength of Spain’s squad depth as a whole, with Eric Garcia and Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi winner of the tournament’s young player award both available off the bench, alongside Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi.
Spain’s goalkeeping was similarly efficient Unai Simon claimed the Golden Glove having made fewer saves across the entire tournament than Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez made in the final alone. It’s a striking contrast to a tournament otherwise lit up by attacking superstars Kylian Mbappe was directly involved in as many goals on his own as Spain scored in the entire competition, yet it was Spain’s non-scoring players who swept the individual awards.
Neville summed up Spain’s edge as coming from having the strongest overall team, system and technical quality attributes that matter most in a tournament played every four days in extreme heat. His verdict was direct: “Possession has won this World Cup.”
A Style That Never Wavered
Spain’s commitment to their possession-based identity hasn’t always been rewarded their win over Austria en route to this final was their first World Cup knockout victory in 16 years, since their first triumph back in 2010. But De la Fuente’s appointment itself signalled that the federation still believed the Spanish style was the solution rather than the problem, and a new generation of players has continued to apply the same core principles.
This second World Cup crown now sits alongside the 2010 triumph and three European Championship wins over the past 18 years a sustained run that stands as one of the great international football dynasties. Neville added that Spain’s approach has captured attention again at a time when many expected the game to trend toward more direct football, and that instead, the possession-based way has prevailed.
Argentina Left to Reflect
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino credited the squad’s togetherness after the game, though plenty of teams Argentina included could claim similar unity. What set Spain apart, he suggested, was a deeper belief in their own footballing quality, saying the team knew all along they were the superior side technically. After six weeks and 104 matches at the largest World Cup ever staged, few could argue with that assessment.
Quick Facts: Spain’s World Cup Triumph
- Final result: Spain 1-0 Argentina (AET) Ferran Torres
- Goals conceded all tournament: Just 1
- Best Player of the Tournament: Rodri
- Young Player of the Tournament: Pau Cubarsi
- Golden Glove: Unai Simon
- Spain’s major titles since 2010: 2 World Cups, 3 European Championships
