This victory highlighted Spain’s dominance, as they recorded 20 shots compared to Argentina’s lack of any shots on target throughout the match. Lionel Messi’s performance was notably subdued, with only 54 touches and minimal impact as he faced a difficult end to his World Cup career.

The match mirrored Spain’s historic win in 2010, with the decisive goal coming in the second period of extra time after a scoreless regulation time. Torres’ goal was set up by Nico Williams, whose earlier strike was disallowed for a foul by Mikel Merino. Despite Argentina’s strong defensive organization and reliance on goalkeeper Emi Martinez, they struggled offensively, only threatening towards the end of extra time with a missed chance from Giuliano Simeone.

Spain’s victory not only adds to their accolades, including the Euro 2024 title, but also confirms their unbeaten tournament run under manager Luis de la Fuente. Following the match, tensions flared as Argentine players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina clashed with Spain’s players, resulting in Paredes receiving a red card after engaging in post-match confrontations. This highlights the emotional intensity surrounding the match and the importance of this title for Spain. Despite hopes of a fairytale last match for Messi, he left without the Golden Boot, losing out to France’s Kylian Mbappe by two goals.