Spain Beats Argentina in Extra Time to Win Second World Cup, Ending Messi Era
Ferran Torres' 106th-minute goal sealed a 1-0 victory over 10-man Argentina at MetLife Stadium, capping a tournament that crowned a new generation of stars.
Spain won its second World Cup title Sunday night, beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and denying Lionel Messi a chance at back-to-back championships in what he had indicated would be his final World Cup match.
Substitute Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in the 106th minute, converting the game's only goal in a contest that turned increasingly bad-tempered as Argentina finished the match with 10 men, according to ESPN, BBC Sport and Al Jazeera. "Destiny was written," Torres said afterward, according to ESPN.
The result marked a generational handover. Nineteen-year-old Lamine Yamal helped lead Spain to glory, while Messi, largely subdued throughout the final, was left in tears afterward and said Spain was simply the better team, ESPN reported. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni also left his postgame news conference in tears, telling reporters he was uncertain about his future and that it would be difficult to assemble another squad capable of reaching consecutive World Cup finals, according to BBC Sport and Al Jazeera.
Scenes turned ugly at the final whistle as frustration among Argentina's players boiled over, BBC Sport reported.
The tournament's individual honors were split rather than dominated by a single side. Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the first player to claim the award twice, while Spain's Rodri took home the Golden Ball as the tournament's top player, ESPN and BBC Sport reported.
The title was Spain's 16th in five years across its various national teams, according to BBC Sport, and made it the first nation to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles at the same time.
— Compiled from wire reports, including ESPN, BBC Sport, Al Jazeera and PBS NewsHour.