Spain beat 10-man Argentina to win one-sided World Cup final
Ferran Torres scores only goal of a game in which defending champions did not create a chance in more than 90 minutes
Ferran Torres scored an extra-time winner as Spain beat holders Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup and shatter Lionel Messi’s dreams of a triumphant farewell to football’s greatest stage.
Barcelona striker Torres lashed home a thumping finish in the 106th minute to reward a dominant display by Spain against an Argentina team who failed to register a single shot on target in 120 minutes.
A star-studded crowd of 80,663 that included US President Donald Trump packed East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to see if Argentina captain Messi could crown his glittering career with a second World Cup victory.
But the 39-year-old maestro – almost certainly playing in his final World Cup game – was reduced to irrelevance as Spain took control early on against an Argentina team who committed a catalogue of cynical fouls throughout.
The South Americans’ skulduggery ended with midfielder Enzo Fernandez being sent off after a brutal challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi in injury time.
For long periods, though, it looked as if Argentina may somehow hold on for a penalty shoot-out as Spain struggled to make the breakthrough.