Key takeaways from the World Cup 2026 final as Spain beat Argentina

Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory implicit Argentina successful the World Cup last connected Sunday made it hard to quality that the state is producing the champion shot connected the planet.

Along with their 2nd World Cup title, Spain are reigning champions of the Euros and Olympic Games, on with the Women’s World Cup.

Here are the main takeaways from the final:

Spain successful control

La Roja captured this World Cup utilizing shot mastery, with an accent connected possession stifling the opposition’s quality to attack. By playing keep-away, Spain prevented Argentina’s Lionel Messi from being progressive for astir of the last match.

In 8 games, La Roja conceded lone 1 goal, a Charles De Ketelaere header implicit Pau Cubarsi for Belgium successful the quarterfinal.w

Spain lacked accepted unsmooth and acceptable cardinal defenders, specified arsenic their 2010 pairing of Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos. But Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte got things done with finesse and positioning. They were backed by goalkeeper Unai Simon, whose anticipation and unhesitating willingness to permission the punishment country short-circuited a sixth-minute Messi run, arsenic helium did against France’s Kylian Mbappe successful the semifinals.

Not that they couldn’t beryllium physical, but Laporte really helped Messi up aft flooring him successful stoppage time, thing Ramos astir apt would not person done.

La Roja’s array of wingers

Pre-tournament hype focused connected Spain’s close wing, that is, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal.

Well, they got the close country of the field, but Yamal did not beryllium to beryllium the difference-maker successful the final.

After 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi caused Enzo Fernandez to beryllium red-carded, enabling Spain to play a antheral up during added time, positive other time, close backmost Pedro Porro provided the transverse to acceptable up Ferran Torres’ goal.

The deciding series began with Yamal laying disconnected for Porro, who one-timed a curling, back-post cross, perfectly placed for near winger Nico Williams to caput down for Torres’ left-foot half-volley.

Difficult to responsibility Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente, but the result mightiness person been decided earlier had helium started Williams implicit Alex Baena.

Williams had a 96th-minute decorativeness controversially disallowed, and short-circuited aft going successful unsocial connected Emiliano Martinez. But helium terrorised Nahuel Molina with his dribbling, and skipped past Molina earlier uncovering Torres.

As for Cubarsi, announcers took to calling him “Cubarsito”, reflecting his youthfulness. Cubarsi looked the part, flashing a buck-toothed grin aft teammates ceremonially paddled him done a gauntlet connected the mode to accepting the “Young Player’’ award.

Giuseppe Bergomi, listed arsenic the lone erstwhile teenage World Cup-winning starting centre back, was 18 erstwhile helium started the 1982 semifinal and last for Italy. Bergomi, though, seemed older than his years, mustachioed and aboriginal earned the nickname Lo Zio (“Uncle”).

Spain’s Ferran Torres scores the winning extremity past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez [Ashley Landis/AP Photo]

How it adds up for Rodri

There are not galore statistic to measurement the worth of Rodri, oregon warrant him being named Ballon D’Or winner. Zero goals oregon assists successful 8 games.

Fortunately, Rodri was recognised for his power connected the pitch.

You can’t quantify his mastery of the midfield position, anticipating the action, controlling the tempo.

Recovering from genu surgery, Rodri struggled to lucifer his 2024 FIFA Ballon D’Or signifier with Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola got it close by predicting helium would instrumentality to his champion during the World Cup.

Possibly tiring, Rodri was replaced by Martin Zubimendi successful the 99th minute, but helium seemed caller portion virtually sprinting to the bench.

More is not ever better

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described this World Cup arsenic “the top … of each time”.

It was surely the biggest World Cup, but that doesn’t needfully equate to the best.

FIFA overdid things with a 48-team field, stretching the tourney to 104 games implicit 5 weeks. Some of the other teams added an underdog flavor, but unheralded teams usually look successful a 32-team World Cup.

Then, determination was the overblown final, presented with 2 hydration breaks, positive a 27-minute half-time amusement – delays that could lone instrumentality distant from the drama.

Some sporting events consciousness the request for halftime “entertainment”, but the World Cup seems good lasting connected its own. Mae West said words to the effect that there’s nary specified happening arsenic excessively overmuch of a bully thing. But an intense, well-played last showed the World Cup doesn’t request to inject much distractions.

New York-New Jersey not Messi’s benignant of town

Messi was disheartened successful his erstwhile rubric crippled acquisition successful East Rutherford. Argentina mislaid connected penalties to Chile aft playing to a 0-0 gully successful the 2016 Copa Centenario final, arsenic Messi missed his attempt.

After that match, Messi was quoted arsenic saying helium would discontinue from the nationalist team. But, it turned retired his connection had been interpreted incorrect and, actually, helium lone wanted a interruption from losing.

Argentina had mislaid to the Chileans connected penalties aft playing to a 0-0 gully successful the 2015 Copa America final, and to Germany, 1-0, successful other time, successful the 2014 World Cup.

On Sunday, Messi’s teammates simply couldn’t get him the shot often capable to beryllium effective. The effect affirmed that winning 2 World Cups successful succession mightiness beryllium the astir hard situation successful squad sports.