EAST RUTHERFORD (New Jersey): It was a World Cup in which football’s biggest names sprinkled stardust over the tou­r­nament, yet in the end the trophy deservingly went to a formidable if unspectacular Spain side who were simply too strong, even without Lamine Yamal being at his thrilling best.

The 19-year-old winger was the focus of so much attention, but he initially struggled to find full fitness and finished with just one goal, in a group-stage win over Saudi Arabia.

This World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, had an average of 2.96 goals per game, making it the most prolific since 1970.

Spain scored only 14 times in eight games, but they take the trophy home after silencing Lionel Messi and defeating a disappointing Argentina 1-0 at the end of extra time at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

La Roja completely outplayed the defending champions, but needed a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute to become world champions for the second time.

Torres said his World Cup-winning goal belonged to “47 million people, not just me or the 26 players”.

“Ultimately, the goal belongs to 47 million people — not just me or the 26 players,” said Torres, referring to Spain’s approximate population.

“It was written in the stars that we would win far away from our people, yet we made them feel as close as possible,” added Torres, who was named player of the match despite coming off the bench.

“It’s a huge sense of relief. I faced a lot of criticism during the World Cup, but destiny is written. Thank God, who always gives me the strength to keep going.”

The key to Spain’s success was a remarkable defence which conceded only once in the whole competition, against Belgium in the quarter-finals.

Protecting that defence as brilliantly as ever was the captain Rodri, and it was telling that he was named player of the tournament rather than Messi, Kylian Mbappe or any of the other attacking superstars on display.

There were echoes of 2010 in South Africa, when Spain won their first World Cup with a fantastic side whose success was also built around a watertight back line.

“When you don’t concede I think it is much easier to win,” said Marc Cucurella, the floppy-haired full-back who recently signed for Real Madrid from Chelsea. “We attack together and defend together, and that is one of the key things about this team.”

Messi and Argentina did not muster a single shot on target as their attempts to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since 1962 fell flat.

In the semi-finals, Spain had also shut out France’s remarkable attack, including Mbappe who still ended the tournament as the top scorer with 10 goals.

“If you could speak to all the gloves I have worn in this World Cup, I think they would tell you they didn’t have much work to do,” joked goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Behind Mbappe and Messi, who got eight goals, in the race for the golden boot were Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, reigning Ballon d’Or Ousmane Dembele, and Harry Kane.

Some of the most recognisable faces of this World Cup, but their teams could not match Spain, who are the first country to be world and European champions at the same time since they did the double themselves in 2008 and 2010.

The future looks just as bright — Yamal and fellow 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi are now part of an elite group of only 10 players ever to have won the World Cup as teenagers.

HOSTS IN 2030

Coach Luis de la Fuente, who took over following the disappointing last-16 exit at the 2022 World Cup, is a veteran at 65 but has achieved astonishing results and has a contract until Euro 2028.

Before the tournament, so much attention was on the big-name coaches who came into international football with huge reputations.

Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel failed to live up to the expectations of Brazil and England respectively, while Mauricio Pochettino could only lead the United States to the last 16 and Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany disappointed.

“These players are exceptionally talented and it is an honour to accompany them,” said De la Fuente, happy to stand back and let them bask in the glory.

“I feel especially proud of this generation of footballers who have grown with this idea... giving us an example of a group, of a family.”

The coach said he believed Spain should have won the game earlier than the goal by Torres that settled a tense final, but he praised Argentina ‘keeper Emi Martinez for an inspired performance.

Argentina had Enzo Fernandez sent off for a second yellow card in the 93rd minute before the game went into extra time.

“I think the game should have been decided earlier. Dibu’s great saves prevented us from winning sooner, but it is a World Cup final and, even with ten players at the end, you have to suffer,” de la Fuente said

The last two decades have seen Spain firmly shake off their reputation as international football’s great underachievers, and they have now won two World Cups and three European Championships since 2008, as well as one UEFA Nations League.

They will be back in action in just two months with Nations League games against England and Croatia.

For now, though, they can enjoy being world champions again, and think about the tantalising prospect of defending the trophy in 2030 -- that will be the first time in World Cup history that the holders have defended the title on home soil.

‘SPAIN DESERVED TO WIN’

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted Spain were the better team following his team’s defeat in the final.

The South American champions, featuring star player Lionel Messi, had been seeking to become the first team since 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.

“They were the better side — that’s the truth — but I’ll cherish the memory of them (his side), of what they achieved, and of the value of making it this far,” Scaloni said. “We have to place immense value on this because it takes so much effort.”

Scaloni said his team must accept defeat with the same grace they showed when celebrating recent successes.

“We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat. Today, we are showing that we know how to lose,” he said. “We lost the match and we accept it, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here.”

He thanked the fans for their incredible support throughout the 2026 tournament.

“To the people, my players, and the country, I want to say that we gave it our all,” he said. “We arrived here facing a realistic situation, but if the players leave everything on the pitch, as they did today, it sets a great example for our people and our country.

“We have to pick ourselves up again, there is no other way,” he added.

Scaloni, 48, said the side’s achievement in reaching a second successive final should be appreciated.

“I certainly value the runners-up spot because it takes so much to get here, and I think it deserves huge recognition,” he said. “Naturally, we would have liked to win, but ultimately, I feel gratitude. That is the only word I have, along with sadness, of course.

“But when you give everything like that, regardless of whether you play well or poorly, it’s very hard to find fault.”

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2026