Spain vs. Argentina on Sunday lived up to the hype, seeing the match need 120 minutes to determine the World Cup champion.
Looks like Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal found who they were looking for 😅 pic.twitter.com/sknIAjpaOJ
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— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 19, 2026
First half
The match would see an opportunity early for Spain, with Lamine Yamal taking the first strike of the day.
Emiliano Martínez would notch his first save of the match managing to keep the deflected ball out of net.
A scary moment for Spain in the 27th saw an under-hit pass almost leave Lionel Messi in a one-on-one situation with Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón.
Spain would continue to force Argentina to remain on the defensive, using suffocating defense to win back ball possession whenever Argentina would look to advance.
In the 39th minute, Mikel Oyarzabal would take just the second strike of the match for Spain, forcing another save from Emiliano Martínez.
And just a few minutes later, in the 43rd, Marc Cucurella would challenge Emiliano Martínez once again.
But his strike would fall just wide of net.
However, at the half, neither side could find the back of the net, with Argentina failing to even find an attempt on goal.
Second half
It would take Spain all of 40 seconds before their first strike of the half, courtesy of Álex Baena.
In the 64th, a Dani Olmo strike with force would force yet another save from Emiliano Martínez, knocking out for a corner.
Spain’s pressure would remain persistent, with Yamal creating a great opportunity in the 67th minute.
Yamal’s endline cross would be put right onto net by Ferran Torres, but once again, Emiliano Martínez would deny the Spaniards.
And Emiliano Martínez’s day continued to remain busy, making yet another save in the 77th, denying Pedri.
Just seconds later, Pau Cubarsí would send in a strike with some pace, forcing Emiliano Martínez to make yet another save.
Spain’s offense, however, remained relentless.
In the 81st, Aymeric Laporte would head a weak floater onto net where Emiliano Martínez would corral the weakly hit strike for his eighth save of the afternoon.
And Emiliano Martínez’s historic day would continue, making his ninth save of the match, this time denying Nico Williams.
The save from Emiliano Martínez would set the record for most saves a World Cup final, with even more drama following the save.
Following a quick clearance, Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández would pick up his second yellow of the match.
Fernández would be sent off due to yellow card accumulation, forcing Argentina to play a man down for the remainder of stoppage time.
A foul just outside the box would see Spain with one last chance to win the final in regular time.
Yamal would step up to take the set piece, firing in a hearty strike onto net, but once again, Emiliano Martínez would deny Yamal.
Emiliano Martínez’s performance in net would single handedly force the match into extra time, facing 15 shots, 10 of which were on target.
Argentina would finish regular time with 0 attempts at net, being outshot 15-0.
Extra time
In the 96th minute, Williams had seemingly, finally, put Spain ahead.
But a foul would deny the goal and keep the match level.
Mikel Merino would take his chance on goal in the 104th, pushing his strike just wide of the net.
Spain would find four attempts at net in the first 15 minutes of extra time, but none of which would find the back of the net.
Knowing a penalty shootout would favor Argentina, Spain needed to find a go-ahead goal in the final 15 minutes of extra time.
Just 40 seconds into the second half of extra time, Spain’s Ferran Torres would take his third crack on net and the 20th for Spain.
And true to the old adage, Torres’ third time of asking would find the back of the net.
In the 113th minute, Torres would seemingly ice the final with a brace, taking a 0ne-on-one against Emiliano Martínez.
But right as Torres’ strike hit the back of the net, the offsides flag would deny Torres his second.
In the 115th, following a corner, Messi would deliver a high looping ball to the back post.
Spanish goalkeeper Simón would fight the sun, ranging all the way to the back post and watching the ball fall onto the top of the net.
In the 117th, Messi would fire a strike with serious pace, but Merino would put his own personal safety on the line, blocking the Messi strike with his face.
Argentina’s desperation would see the with a great chance in the 120th minute.
A cross into the box would see a gaggle of bodies collide for possession, seeing the ball be struck wide for an Argentine corner.
The subsequent corner would see yet another chance of Argentina, but a weak clearance would see Argentina with another corner.
With yet another corner, Argentina’s Giuliano Simeone would see the best chance of the match for Argentina.
But his strike would be skied over the bar and out of play.
Argentina would not find another, with the full-time whistle ringing out and crowing a new world champion.
Spain collected just their second World Cup in the nation’s history, their first since 2010.
Just like their 2010 run, Spain would win both the European championship and the World Cup.
With their victory, the 2026 World Cup has concluded, the next will be a special one, even by World Cup standards.
2030 will mark a century since the first World Cup in 1930, taking place in Portugal, Spain and Morocco with three special group stage matches taking place in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Follow Adrian Murillo Silva on Instagram @adrianms_official
