Spain beat Argentina in a World Cup final that turned messy fast

Earlier this week we wrote about Spain and Argentina as a control-versus-output final. The match in Spain vs Argentina ended up giving the wider story to the noise around it as much as the football itself. Donald Trump was booed when he walked onto the pitch, then later appeared in the trophy presentation. Spain still won 1-0 after extra-time at MetLife Stadium.

Ferran Torres settled the final late

The goal came in the 106th minute, when Ferran Torres buried Nico Williams' knock-down to decide a dismal game in New Jersey. It was the kind of moment that almost felt inevitable in a final where chances were tight and margins were smaller still.

Rodri was Spain's top-rated starter at 8.2, which fits the way they controlled the middle of the pitch before he went off in the 99th minute. Argentina's best answer was Emiliano Martínez, who posted a 9.8 rating and made 11 saves. Even then, they still needed a late swing in their favour that never arrived.

The end of the night was ugly

At full-time, Leandro Paredes was sent off for violent conduct after grabbing Eric García's throat. The red card at 120+6 summed up a final that had already gone well beyond the football. Trump's presence became part of the broadcast narrative, but the decisive sporting moment was still Torres' finish in extra-time.

Spain leave with the trophy and a final that will be remembered for the boos, the late winner and the dismissal that followed. The next stop in the record now belongs to the match report, because this one ended with Torres in the 106th minute and Paredes off at 120+6.