Highlights: Spain beats Argentina 1-0 to win its second World Cup title

Argentine President Javier Milei congratulated the national team after its loss to Spain.

“Thank you very much, players...!!! You fought until the very end. Argentina always at the top,” Milei posted on X minutes after the game.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni began sobbing near the end of his post-match news conference when asked about his future with the team. Scaloni apologized for getting emotional and left in tears.

The red card given to Enzo Fernández may have doomed Argentina’s chances against Spain.

Fernández is the sixth player in the World Cup final history to receive a red card, according to Opta. Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt in the 2006 final is the most famous incident that led to a player being sent off.

Only once has the team that went down a man ended up winning. That was France in 1998 against Brazil, when Marcel Desailly was sent off with France leading 2-0. Les Bleus went on to win 3-0. But in 2006, France lost to Italy in a penalty shootout after Zidane was ejected.

In the 1990 final, two Argentina players received red cards against West Germany.

John Heitinga of the Netherlands was sent off in extra time of Spain’s victory in 2010.

Zlatan Ibrahimović, the retired Sweden player who’s been a fixture of Fox’s programming during the World Cup, announced on the air that this tournament would be the end of his broadcasting career.

As the panel of Rebecca Lowe, Thierry Henry, Alexi Lalas and Ibrahimović closed out the final, each took a turn to say their bit. Ibrahimović thanked everyone and then let slip his news.

“I hope, America, you enjoyed it as much as I did. And this is also my farewell to the studio,” he said.

“It is?” Lowe asked.

“This was the first and last time for me, so thank you everybody,” Ibrahimović responded.

When it was Lalas’ turn, he turned to Ibrahimović: “You’re retired? OK.”

“You’ve got to retire on top, Alexi!” Ibrahimović retorted with a smirk.

Kylian Mbappé of France won the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s top scorer with 10 goals after Argentina’s Lionel Messi was held scoreless in the final. Messi finished with eight goals. Mbappé also has the career record with 22, one more than Messi.

Three other awards went to Spain players. Captain Rodri won the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player. Unai Simón won the Golden Glove for the top performance by a goalkeeper. Pau Cubarsí won the Best Young Player Award, beating out fellow 19-year-old teammate Lamine Yamal.

After Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final, fans expressed their pride in the spirited efforts of the team and superstar Lionel Messi.

“We’re just grateful — grateful because they had a great tournament. To be among the two best teams in the world today is something that makes us very proud,” said Andrea Galaxio, one of the thousands of fans dancing and chanting at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires.

Many Argentines described the team’s tenacity and energy as a display of national character.

“The grit, the guts, the Argentine suffering, the resilience in the face of adversity,” said Pablo Amarillo.

President Trump helped hand the World Cup trophy to Spain players assembled for their victory photo, and then remained directly at their side as they jumped up and down in celebration.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino walked alongside Trump to deliver the award and then moved out of view of cameras. Trump hung closer, smiling as the team hoisted the trophy.

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Spanish fans celebrate in central Madrid after Spain defeated Argentina in the World Cup final soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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Spanish fans celebrate in central Madrid after Spain defeated Argentina in the World Cup final soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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Spanish fans react while watching the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina on giant screens in central Madrid, Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match is being played in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

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Spanish fans celebrate in Barcelona after Spain defeated Argentina in the World Cup final soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

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Huge crowds watching the final on big screens across Spain cheered with joy at the final whistle to celebrate Spain’s victory and second World Cup title.

Tens of thousands of fans waving Spanish flags and wearing Spain jerseys yelled and jumped in viewing areas throughout the country.

In Madrid, some 20,000 people celebrated at a main plaza, and more than 10,000 were on hand at the Movistar Arena.

Streets in the capital filed quickly with people honking their car horns. Celebrations were expected to continue throughout the night across the country.

Pablo Francisco was one of the many dejected Argentina fans leaving the stadium after the final whistle. He says the better team won.

“Spain, they have younger players and better play in terms of what they do defensively,” said the Buenos Aires resident, who was with his wife and three children. “Argentina is an old team. You can tell, they were tired.”

Francisco said it softened the blow somewhat for him that he’d been in the stands when Argentina won it all in Qatar in 2022.

“Now, it’s our turn to lose,” he said.

Tears rolled down Lionel Messi’s cheeks as he turned toward Argentina fans after receiving his World Cup runner-up medal.

After shaking hands with President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Messi stood in front of thousands of Argentina fans still in the stands.

President Trump walked onto the pitch with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and stood on a platform to hand out awards.

Alongside Trump were Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who also helped distribute awards.

Trump shook hands with players and congratulated them as they walked across the platform.

“I just want to lift that Cup and press it really hard. This is a dream of 47 million people who were on this pitch today, so I think we all deserved this and we broke our back,” Torres said.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is already looking to the future.

“We are world champions. I am very proud, very happy for my players,” de la Fuente said through an interpreter. “We closed a very important chapter. ... This team has a long way to go. We are already thinking what is coming next.”

Buenos Aires’ Obelisk monument glowed in the blue and white of Argentina’s flag as images of the national team’s players and a montage of Lionel Messi’s goals were projected onto the landmark.

The messages “One team. One entire nation” and “The most beautiful fan basein the world” also lit up the monument as thousands gathered in the city center to celebrate Argentina despite its loss to Spain in the World Cup final.

Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the match in extra time.

“All finals are difficult, and when you have (Lionel) Messi in the other team, there is always some nervousness. But in the end we have always relied on ourselves, on our game, and we showed that again today,” Torres said.

Shortly after the match ended, Argentina star Lionel Messi was sitting on the field as Spain players celebrated. He then got up when 19-year-old Spain forward Lamine Yamal approached him and they shared a handshake and a hug.

Argentine fans in Buenos Aires remained upbeat even after their team’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final. Crowds at the Obelisk in the Argentine capital set off fireworks and flares. Drivers honked their horns with defiant enthusiasm and people waved Argentine flags.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was held back by a Spain player while appearing to shout at someone moments after the final whistle. Leandro Paredes also shoved Spain’s Eric García and Gavi, and Nicolas Otamendi exchanged words with a few Spanish players, including Rodri.

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Players brawl during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni and Spain’s Borja Iglesias (26) interact after Spain’s win in the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

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Spain’s Gavi, left, falls as he scuffles with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes (5) and Thiago Almada during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Argentina fans are streaming out of the stadium with looks of genuine shock and dejection as Spain fans dressed in red remain in the stands dancing, cheering and waving flags.

Spain dominated the match with its ball-control offense but couldn’t find the breakthrough goal until the 106th minute. Spain won its second World Cup title.

The loss may be the end of Argentina star Lionel Messi’s World Cup career. The 39-year-old maestro could do little to influence the match as Spain’s defense smothered him most of the day, or simply kept the ball away from his feet.

Spain has won its second World Cup. La Roja also won the title in 2010. This time, Spain denied Lionel Messi and Argentina a second consecutive championship.

Spain’s Ferran Torres smashed the ball past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for his first goal of the World Cup to make it 1-0 in the 106th minute. Nico Williams had kept a long cross in play when he headed the ball toward Torres in front of the goal. It was Spain’s 20th shot of the match.

Torres was a substitute in the 62nd minute by coach Luis de la Fuente.

Ferran Torres scores in the 106th minute.

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Spain’s Ferran Torres (7) scores their first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Spain’s Ferran Torres scores the opening goal while Argentina’s Lionel Messi watches at left,during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Spain’s Ferran Torres (7) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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The scoreless World Cup final has 15 more minutes of extra time, plus stoppage time after that, before Spain and Argentina go to penalty kicks to decide the championship if the game remains tied. Spain still has the edge with 11 players to 10. Spain also has 19 shots to Argentina’s zero, but none has found the net.

Spain sent in Martín Zubimendi for Rodri and Eric García for Aymeric Laporte in the 99th minute.

Argentina subbed defender Marcos Senesi for Julián Álvarez in the 102nd, playing more defensively while down to 10 men. Spain would want to avoid a penalty shootout after dominating most of the game.

It looked like Spain had scored in extra time when Nico Williams finally put the ball into Argentina’s net. But the referee ruled that Mikel Merino had stepped on one of Nicolás Otamendi’s feet and immediately waved off the goal.

Three previous World Cup finals were scoreless after 90 minutes of regulation time: Brazil against Italy in 1994, Spain against the Netherlands in 2010 and Germany against Argentina in 2014. Only the 1994 final remained scoreless after extra time, and Brazil won the penalty shootout.

Argentina and Spain are scoreless after regulation. Spain has been the dominant side but has yet to find its way past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.

Lamine Yamal got a free kick late in stoppage time with the chance to give Spain a dramatic victory. Instead, Martínez dived to make his 10th save of the final.

Now comes two 15-minute periods of extra time. If the game is still undecided, it will go to a penalty shootout.

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup on penalty kicks against France. Spain’s 2010 title came on a goal in the 116th minute. Argentina is down to 10 players after a late red card to Enzo Fernández.

Argentina was down to 10 men after Enzo Fernández was shown a yellow card in stoppage time, his second of the game. That means an automatic red card and ejection. Fernández had scored the tying goal in Argentina’s semifinal win over England.

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Referee Slavko Vincic, of Slovenia, shows a red card to Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Spain’s Pau Cubarsi (22) leaps in the air after he is fouled by Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez (24) reacts after he was shown a red card during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Spain and Argentina have reached stoppage time in the World Cup final that remains scoreless. There are four minutes on the board. If neither team scores, there will be 30 minutes of extra time in two 15-minute increments.

Midfielder Enzo Fernández was upset that he didn’t get a foul call and was booked for dissent with the referee.

Spain’s leading World Cup scorer was subbed out after a missed opportunity.

Coach Luis de la Fuente took out Mikel Oyarzabal a few minutes after Oyarzabal made a nice pass to Fabián Ruiz inside Argentina’s box but then stopped running. Had Oyarzabal followed his pass, Ruiz had laid it off for what would have been a good scoring opportunity.

Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot against France in the semifinals, his fifth goal of the tournament.

Spain putting Nico Williams and Mikel Merino into the game adds some potential scoring punch. Merino has scored two late go-ahead goals in this tournament.

Williams is on for midfielder Álex Baena, and Merino is on for midfielder Dani Olmo.

After a series of corner kicks for Spain, Rodrigo De Paul got a header on net, only to be denied by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez in the 67th minute. The second-half hydration break followed with the score still 0-0.

After the break, Argentina forward Giuliano Simeone exited for defender Rodrigo De Paul and defender Facundo Medina was subbed out for defender Cristian Romero in 70th minute.

Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored in the semifinal against France, has been replaced by Ferran Torres. And Fabián Ruiz came out for Pedri. The chess match is taking shape as the teams try to break a scoreless draw. Argentina has yet to take a shot.

Another sub for Argentina in the 58th minute. Defender Nahuel Molina is on for defender Gonzalo Montiel. That’s the third of five substitutions available to coach Lionel Scaloni and it comes as Spain continues to press the attack in Argentina’s end.

Leandro Paredes, who just came on at the start of the second half, was shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute. It came after a testy confrontation and a shove on Spain’s Dani Olmo while a Spain player was down on the field.

There were just three total shots in the first half. That’s the fewest in the first half of a World Cup final since records are available dating to 1966, according to Opta. Argentina became the second team with no shots in the opening half of a World Cup final since the records started, after France in 2022.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes is on for forward Nico González to start the second half. That’s two subs now for Argentina. It has three left.

The second half of the World Cup final has begun after a break of a little over 27 minutes. Argentina and Spain remain scoreless.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has some halftime adjustments he could make after Spain controlled roughly 65% of the possession and had three shots on net and another scoring chance.

Giving Nicolás Tagliafico some help might be a good start after the defender struggled to stay in front of and contain Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old who many think will eventually supplant Lionel Messi as the world’s best player. Argentina has zero shots of any kind, so generating more offense is also on the docket.

A coalition of artists, organizers, and advocacy groups handed out thousands of specially designed red cards before kickoff.

They urged fans to hold up the cards in protest after the game, when President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino were expected to present the trophy.

The protesters said in a statement they’re opposed to “corruption in sport and public life, the growing convergence between FIFA leadership and political power, and the human consequences of escalating immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.”

The longer-than-usual halftime came up at Spain’s news conference on Friday. Coach Luis de la Fuente brought up how he talked to players and staff about all the peculiarities of the tournament and how they would not be affected.

“Everyone’s proud of being here,” de la Fuente said. “Everything that we consider to be strange or odd nowadays — hydration breaks, this 30-minute halftime — maybe within 30 years will become normality. Maybe football is developing that way. We don’t know. It is what it is. This is the situation we have. We need to adapt, and we need to accept those things that you cannot change. We can’t change that, so we’ll have to enjoy it.”