Spain dethrone Argentina to win second World Cup title as Messi's historic run ends

East Rutherford: Spain were crowned FIFA World Cup champions for the second time after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in Sunday's final, bringing Lionel Messi's bid for back-to-back world titles to an end. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal just 37 seconds into the second period of extra time at MetLife Stadium, sealing Spain's first World Cup triumph since 2010 and ending Argentina's hopes of becoming the first nation in more than 50 years to successfully defend the title. The victory capped a remarkable tournament for Spain, who dominated the final from the outset and completed one of the most impressive World Cup campaigns on record. Spain controlled possession, dictated the tempo and overwhelmed Argentina statistically, finishing with a 20-1 advantage in shots and completing 845 passes compared to Argentina's 433. The Spanish side also made defensive history, conceding just one goal throughout the entire tournament, the fewest by a World Cup-winning team, while extending their unbeaten run to 38 matches. For Messi, the defeat marked a painful end to another memorable World Cup campaign. The 39-year-old captain, who led Argentina to the title in 2022 and helped guide the team back to another final, was unable to produce the decisive moment that had defined so much of his international career. Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, taking his overall World Cup goals tally to 21. However, he was overtaken in the all-time World Cup scoring charts by France's Kylian Mbappé, who reached 22 goals after scoring twice in Saturday's third-place play-off. The Argentine star became the first player to start three World Cup finals and added to an international career that has produced 125 goals for his country. Spain's victory also highlighted the emergence of a new generation of stars, led by 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, who played a key role throughout the tournament and celebrated alongside Torres after the winning goal. After the final whistle, Spanish players embraced and consoled Messi before collecting their winners' medals. Argentina's players received a standing ovation from their supporters, while Spain lifted the trophy at midfield. The triumph makes Spain the first nation to simultaneously hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles, further cementing its position at the summit of world football.