From Ferran Torres to Messi, the 10 records left behind by the historic 2020 World Cup final

Spain are back on top of world football. "La Roja" defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 World Cup final, winning their second world title in history and ending the reign of the defending champions.

The final, held at the New York New Jersey Stadium, was only decided in the 106th minute, when Ferran Torres scored the goal that sealed the Spanish triumph. However, beyond the decisive goal, the match was characterized by the complete dominance of Luis de la Fuente's team, which was also reflected in the statistics.

Absolute dominance in the grand final
Spain ended the challenge with around 18 shots on goal, while Argentina failed to register a single shot on target throughout the entire final. An unusual statistic for the reigning champions, who were completely neutralized by the defensive organization and control of the game by the Spanish.

The second star, after 16 years
The triumph of 2026 gives Spain the second star on the jersey, a full 16 years after the historic success of 2010 in South Africa, when Andrés Iniesta decided the final against the Netherlands.

"La Roja" thus becomes the seventh national team in history to win more than one World Cup, joining Brazil, Germany, Italy, Uruguay, Argentina and France.

A team that doesn't know how to lose.
Success in the World Cup final extended Spain's unbeaten run in all competitions to 38 matches, one of the most impressive runs in the history of national team football.

Luis de la Fuente's team built their triumph on ball control, tactical discipline and an almost impenetrable defense. Goalkeeper Unai Simón was one of the tournament's key figures, keeping six clean sheets in seven World Cup matches.

A historic final
For the first time in World Cup history, the reigning European champion and the reigning South American champion faced off in the final.

Spain arrived as European Championship winners, while Argentina as world champions and Copa América winners. In the end, it was "La Roja" who ascended to the throne of world football.

Messi closes another historical chapter
Although he failed to defend his world title, Lionel Messi added another record to his career.

The final against Spain was his 34th appearance at the World Cup, extending the all-time record for the most appearances in the tournament's history.

Along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi also remains one of only two footballers to have participated in six different editions of the World Cup.

The Argentine striker finished the 2026 World Cup with eight goals and four assists, being among the main protagonists of the tournament.

Argentina surrenders the crown
Despite losing in the final, Argentina remains one of the most successful national teams in history, with three world titles won in 1978, 1986 and 2022.

After their unforgettable triumph in Qatar four years ago, the "Albiceleste" failed to defend their crown, falling just one step short of history.

A record-breaking World Cup
The 2026 World Cup will be remembered as the biggest edition in FIFA history. For the first time, 48 national teams participated, while 104 matches were played during the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The finale also brought a historic innovation, with the first musical show during the break, inspired by the Super Bowl model, where well-known artists such as Post Malone, Robbie Williams, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Hudson performed.

In the end, history will remember a final decided by a goal, a World Cup filled with records and a new champion. After 16 years of waiting, Spain returns to the top of world football and places the second star on its coat of arms.