Spain Edges Argentina 1-0 in 2026 World Cup Final: Player Ratings and Highlights

In a tense final at MetLife Stadium, Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, securing Spain's second World Cup trophy with a 1-0 victory over Argentina after extra time. The game was mostly a tactical battle as Spain managed to suppress Argentina and keep Lionel Messi under tight control throughout.

Argentina’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, was outstanding, making numerous saves to keep his team in the match. Yet, a red card for Enzo Fernandez in stoppage time of regulation severely hindered Argentina’s ability to hold on. Fernandez first received a yellow for dissent and then was sent off for a harsh tackle on Pau Cubarsi.

Torres had struggled during the tournament and missed two chances earlier in the match after coming on as a substitute but finally delivered when it mattered most, capitalizing on an assist from Nico Williams.

Final Score and Lineups

Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)

Spain Player Ratings

Ratings are out of 10.

• Unai Simon (6): Reliable overall but struggled with long passes. A crucial early intervention kept a Messi counterattack at bay. Minimal action until extra time's final moments.
• Pedro Porro (8): One of Spain’s top performers, nearly perfect passing accuracy and solid defense, especially against Argentina’s attempts to double-team on his side.
• Pau Cubarsi (9): Dominated possession and defensive duties alike. Showed impressive composure and distribution, playing a key role in Spain’s buildup.
• Aymeric Laporte (6): Less busy defensively but maintained composure and completed a high volume of passes before substitution.
• Marc Cucurella (7): Provided strong width and attacking threat, coming close to scoring before halftime, though his influence waned in the second half.
• Rodri (8): Controlled midfield with physicality and precision, earning the Golden Ball for his efforts, despite being replaced late in extra time.
• Fabian Ruiz (6): Solid performance but less impactful compared to previous matches; subbed out after 60 minutes.
• Lamine Yamal (7): Impressive touches and creativity, consistently tested Argentina’s defense, though often crowded out by multiple defenders.
• Dani Olmo (7): Active early, generating opportunities but faded somewhat as the game progressed and dropped deeper into midfield.
• Alex Baena (6): Played a supporting role with limited attacking success; replaced by Nico Williams late in the game.
• Mikel Oyarzabal (5): Played more like a midfielder, missed key chances, and was substituted for Torres.

Substitutes

• Pedri (8): Came on for Fabian Ruiz and immediately influenced the game with multiple chances created.
• Ferran Torres (8): Overcame earlier misses to score the match-winning goal, securing his place in history.
• Nico Williams (7): Persistent dribbler who earned the assist for the winning goal despite losing many duels.
• Mikel Merino (7): Helped maintain possession and support the attack when introduced.
• Martin Zubimendi (7): Solid midfield presence late in the match, helping to control extra time.
• Eric Garcia (N/A): Came on late to shore up defense and helped prevent late Argentina chances.

Coach Luis de la Fuente (9)

Kept faith in the system that had dominated France, deploying a suffocating press and possession style that Argentina could not break. His tactical approach wore down the opposition and paid off with a late goal.

Argentina Player Ratings

• Emiliano Martinez (9): Stellar performance with multiple key saves, including a brilliant stop on a Lamine Yamal free kick in extra time.
• Gonzalo Montiel (7): Solid defensively with crucial tackles but was substituted due to exhaustion.
• Cristian Romero (7): Reliable defensive work until injury forced his early exit.
• Lisandro Martinez (7*): Strong defensive presence but had to leave due to injury before halftime.
• Nicolas Tagliafico (7): Physical and disciplined defending, keeping Spain's right flank in check.
• Rodrigo De Paul (5): Struggled to impact from wide midfield; replaced in the second half.
• Alexis Mac Allister (4): Active early but faded badly as Spain took control, becoming almost invisible in the second half.
• Nico Gonzalez (5): Defensive tasks limited his offensive contributions; replaced at halftime.
• Enzo Fernandez (2): Poor performance overall, culminating in a red card late in the match.
• Lionel Messi (4): Limited involvement for much of the match and unable to produce his usual magic.
• Julian Alvarez (3): Barely made an impact and was substituted late in extra time.

Substitutes

• Nicolas Otamendi (8): Entered due to injury and performed well, though involved in a controversial dive negating a potential Spain goal.
• Leandro Paredes (7): Added midfield stability but could not change the momentum.
• Nahuel Molina (6): Defended well but was outnumbered during Spain's decisive attack.
• Giuliano Simeone (6): Injected energy but missed a critical late chance to equalize.
• Facundo Medina (7): Solid defensive work after coming on for Romero.
• Marcos Senesi (N/A): Late substitute with limited time to influence the game.

Coach Lionel Scaloni (7)

Faced with Spain’s relentless pressure, Scaloni’s strategy aimed to stifle Spain’s rhythm but lacked the necessary midfield strength to mount a true challenge. Deploying Rodrigo De Paul wide proved ineffective. Some bench options might have offered fresh attacking impetus but went unused. Despite this, he managed to keep Spain from scoring until extra time.