When the final whistle blew at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the setting sun fell on Lionel Messi’s crestfallen face — a cruel contrast to the fairytale of Lusail four years ago. Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez’s wall of 13 remarkable saves, and the desperate defending of a 10-man Argentina after Enzo Fernández’s red card, were not enough: Luis de la Fuente’s Spain swept it all aside to seize football’s throne.
Argentina bowed to Spain 1-0. Ferran Torres’s goal in the 106th minute crowned a new era for world football and closed an epic, tragic chapter of the Messi years. Spain are world champions again for the first time since 2010 — their second world title.
The statistics tell the story. Across the match Spain held an extraordinary 66.3 percent of possession, against Argentina’s 33.7 percent. Spain had 17 shots; Argentina had none. Spain entered their opponents’ box 23 times; Scaloni’s side managed it just twice. Spain completed 647 passes to Argentina’s 337, at 79.5 percent accuracy.
For the first 30 minutes Argentina were barely recognisable, surviving several clear chances only through good fortune. When Enzo Fernández was sent off late on, Argentina were forced into an all-out defensive stand. On that rearguard, Emiliano Martínez almost single-handedly held Spain off, making 13 superb saves — from Nico Williams’s late strike to an earlier free kick by Lamine Yamal.
Argentina committed 19 fouls but were never allowed to build any attacking football, as Rodri, Pedri and Yamal dominated midfield. The 39-year-old Messi, on whose shoulders Argentina had built an era, looked weighed down by exhaustion. Their only hope had been to force extra time or a shootout and turn their fortunes around — but fortune, as they say, favours the brave.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report