Messi's Argentina falls to Spain in World Cup final after extra time

Spain lifted their second World Cup trophy on Sunday, defeating Argentina 1-0 in a tense final that saw Lionel Messi's quest for the ultimate prize end in disappointment. Ferran Torres's 106th-minute strike in extra time proved decisive, securing Spain's victory at the MetLife Stadium.

Argentina's hopes were significantly hampered when Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card in the 93rd minute, forcing them to play the remainder of the match, including the entire extra period, a man down. Despite the disadvantage, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez made several crucial saves to keep Argentina in contention.

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Gave solidity to Argentina in a complicated first half and denied Lamine's goal in the fourth minute. He performed a miracle against a direct free kick from Lamine himself to preserve the draw and another intervention of merit against Nico Williams at the beginning of extra time, but succumbed in the 106th to Ferran Torres.

Lionel Messi, playing in what may have been his final World Cup appearance, was unable to influence the game significantly. The Albiceleste failed to record a single shot on target over the 120-plus minutes of play, a stark contrast to Spain's organized and technical performance. Key players like Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero also had to be substituted due to injuries, further disrupting Argentina's efforts.

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In the third final of his career in a World Cup, he could not get into the game nor give spark to his team, surpassed at the group level by Spain's technique. His last dance in a World Cup ended without glory.