Keith Duggan: Spain win out through imperious collective football craft and near-impregnable defence

Spain are the football champions of the world after a grueling 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final. Substitute Ferran Torres fired the decisive goal after 106 minutes, denying Lionel Messi a fairytale ending to his World Cup career at the age of 39. The match, held in Meadowlands, was overshadowed by the attendance of US President Donald Trump, whose presence necessitated extensive security measures and contributed to significant delays for attendees. Despite the off-field disruptions and a tense, goalless first half, the tournament concluded with Spain's triumph, built on "imperious collective football craft and near-impregnable defence," as described in the source. Argentina, in contrast, reached the final through a series of dramatic, emotional games, with Messi defying logic to magnify his legend throughout the tournament. The final itself was a cagey affair, with both teams struggling to impose themselves. The half-time interval featured a star-studded entertainment show, but the football failed to live up to the grand occasion for many of the estimated 1.8 billion global viewers. Spain's victory marks their second World Cup title, adding to their 2010 win.

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He is pure history. A legend. Reaching a final at 39 years of age is unbelievable. We must enjoy him as it happens. With Diego [Maradona], we miss him. But Messi is still with us.