Goal in Extra Time Brings Dominant Spain the World Cup

Ferran Torres didn't start the World Cup final—but he finished it. The 26-year-old forward came off the bench and smashed home the decisive goal in the 106th minute on Sunday, the Washington Post reports, lifting Spain over Argentina 1-0 in extra time and delivering the country its first World Cup crown since 2010. Spain was absolutely dominant in possession and shot attempts, but Lionel Messi and Argentina managed to hang on and force extra time, per the AP.

The win capped a sprawling, three-nation tournament that drew a record 6.7 million fans and ended Messi's bid for back-to-back titles. Argentina, trying to become the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1962, barely tested Spain's goal and failed to put a shot on target in regulation. A red card to Enzo Fernandez early in extra time left Argentina a man down, and Spain's pressure finally told: After a Nico Williams goal was disallowed, Torres struck the winner, sending a new Spanish generation sprinting across the turf in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before 80,000 spectators, and closing Messi's final World Cup chapter.