Nervous excitement and rowdy cheers turned into anguished groans, nailbiting tension and tears, as Argentines' hope of yet another epic comeback led by Lionel Messi in the World Cup fizzled out against Spain.

The newly crowned world champion sought only the solace and celebration of his mother and girlfriend, moments of quiet intimacy that anchored his historic achievement.

The dust has settled. Spain lifted their second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over an Argentina side that never truly showed up in the all-important final at New York-New Jersey Stadium today.

Spain went all the way round the footballing wheel on Sunday, from silk to sludge, from purity to persistence, and still ended up exactly where they wanted to be -- World Cup champions, with the ball at their feet and belief in their bones.

Fernandez's sending off also gave Argentina an unwanted record as the country to have had the most red cards in World Cup final history.

The 19-year-old Lamine learned to play football on the streets of Rocafonda, a working-class, multi-ethnic area of Mataro, a coastal city about 30 km (19 miles) north of Barcelona.

"I feel especially proud of this generation of footballers who have grown with this idea... giving us an example of a group, of a family," an emotional Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said.

With Spain beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Monday, here is a look back at the tournament's roll of honour over the years.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 concluded on Monday with Spain reclaiming the title for the first time since 2010 after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in a one-sided final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, here is the tournament at a glance.

Spain produced a dominant display to beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final and reclaim the title they last won in 2010 at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Monday.

From the opening whistle at MetLife Stadium, La Roja outclassed the defending champions, controlling the contest less through surgical brilliance and more through Argentina's total collapse in basic execution.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted Spain were the better team following his team's 1-0 extra-time defeat in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni intervened to cool tempers down at the end of a fierce encounter.

Ferran Torres said his World Cup-winning goal for Spain on Sunday belonged to "47 million people, not just me or the 26 players".

Captured in moments of profound stillness and raw despair, the images reveal the weight of a tournament journey brought to an abrupt and painful end.

Kylian Mbappe won the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot on Sunday after Lionel Messi failed to add to his tally in the final in New Jersey.

Ferran's extra-time winner downs toothless Argentina

Rodrigo De Paul returns in midfield, Gonzalo Montiel starts at right back and Nicolas Gonzalez comes in on the wing for Argentina.

After nearly six weeks of heroics and heartache, thrills and spills, heat, rain and rowing, New York New Jersey stadium was preparing tonight to host the crowning event of the World Cup tournament — the final between coolly confident Spain, aiming for their second world title, and fiery Argentina, defending their crown in what they hope will be the bow on the gift of Lionel Messi's glittering career.

As the curtain falls on a spectacular tournament, The Daily Star Sport team unveils its definitive World Cup Best XI. Lining up in a dynamic 4-3-3 formation, this star-studded lineup balances elite tactical discipline with unstoppable attacking flair.