In a final that was as underwhelming as it was one-sided, Spain clinched its second World Cup title in a 1-0 extra-time win over defending champion Argentina. 鈥淟a Furia Roja鈥 鈥 the red fury, as Spain鈥檚 national team is nicknamed 鈥 thoroughly outplayed Lionel Messi鈥檚 Argentina side, who desperately clung to a 0-0 draw until the 16th minute of extra time, when Ferran Torres finally broke the deadlock. When the final whistle blew shortly after, the World Cup had undoubtedly found its deserving winner. Despite superstars like Messi, Mbapp茅 and Haaland dominating the headlines at this World Cup, it was the best team that won, and it was Rodri, the least flashy player you could think of, that won the Golden Ball as the tournament鈥檚 best player.
Having won its first World Cup title in South Africa in 2010, Spain became the seventh nation to win multiple World Cups, joining France and Uruguay at two titles each. Since the competition鈥檚 inception in 1930, only eight countries have won the biggest trophy in football, with Brazil, who last won it in 2002, holding the record with five titles. Having now won two World Cups and three UEFA Euros since 2008, Spain continues to build its legacy as a 21st century footballing superpower, with the success of the national team closely mirrored by Spanish clubs, who are serial winners in European club competitions like the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
