Spain Wins World Cup, Rodri Named Player of the Tournament

Rodri has been named the Player of the Tournament after leading Spain to World Cup glory.

The Manchester City midfielder beats Lionel Messi to the adidas Golden Ball award, capping off a commanding campaign at the heart of Spain’s midfield.

Rodri's control

After lifting the World Cup trophy, Rodri now adds the tournament’s top individual honour to an unforgettable summer for Spain.

Pau Cubarsí’s incredible World Cup journey ends with another special moment.

The 19-year-old defender collects the Young Player of the Tournament award after playing a key role in Spain’s run to the title.

Cubarsí cannot hide his smile as he steps up to receive the honour, capping off a breakthrough tournament on football’s biggest stage.

Already regarded as one of the brightest young defenders in the game, Cubarsí leaves the World Cup as a champion and with another major accolade to his name.

Unai Simón has been rewarded for a sensational World Cup campaign, collecting the Golden Glove award after helping Spain lift the trophy.

The goalkeeper was almost unbeatable throughout the tournament, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding just one goal across the entire competition.

Simón’s consistency between the posts gave Spain the foundation they needed to go all the way, and he now adds an individual honour to his World Cup winner’s medal.

Emi Martínez watches on as the Golden Glove goes to Spain’s No.1.

The final whistle has barely gone and tempers have already boiled over.

A confrontation breaks out in the middle of the pitch as emotions spill over, with players from both sides needing to be separated. Spain’s substitutes rush towards their teammates to celebrate, while Argentina’s players react angrily after seeing their World Cup dream end.

There appears to have been an incident involving Leandro Paredes, which may have sparked the frustration. A disappointing way for Argentina to finish a tournament where their physical approach was a major talking point.

Spain, meanwhile, are already lost in celebration, some players are flat out on the pitch after a dramatic extra-time victory.

FULL-TIME: Spain 1-0 Argentina

Spain have done it. They are champions of the world for the second time.

After a tense, goalless 90 minutes, Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike proved to be the difference as Spain held on through a frantic finale. Argentina pushed until the final whistle, but Spain’s defence stood firm to secure the biggest prize in world football.

The final corner comes to nothing, and the Spanish half of the stadium erupts. The trophy belongs to Spain once again.

Argentina have one final golden opportunity, and it slips away.

Lionel Messi’s corner is only partially cleared, falling perfectly for Giuliano Simeone inside the box. The forward is under pressure and falling backwards as he tries to connect, but his effort flies over from just 10 yards out.

It is by far Argentina’s best chance of the final, and perhaps their last chance to keep their World Cup dream alive. Spain are moments away from lifting the trophy.

Argentina throw everything forward and come desperately close to forcing extra drama.

Messi helps create the opening, slipping the ball out to the right before the cross is sent into the danger area. Spain scramble to get in the way, with a crucial block denying Argentina in front of goal.

Moments later, Argentina get another huge chance. Giuliano Simeone gets on the end of a move down the right and fires a shot towards goal, but it takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner.

Spain are hanging on with the World Cup almost within reach.

Argentina are still searching for a way back into the final.

The ball falls kindly to Lionel Messi on the edge of the attack, and the captain takes aim with his left foot, but his effort is blocked by Mikel Merino in the path of the shot. The ball ricochets away and play is briefly stopped as Merino takes a painful blow.

With just minutes remaining, Argentina are pushing numbers forward in desperation, while Spain hold onto their narrow lead.

Spain could have put the final beyond Argentina’s reach, but Nico Williams lets a huge opportunity slip away.

The winger breaks forward and looks set to at least test Emi Martínez, but his touch lets him down at the crucial moment as the ball bounces off his own foot and the chance disappears.

A painful one for Williams, who had otherwise played a key role in Spain’s breakthrough goal. Argentina remain alive, but time is running out.

Spain think they have put the final beyond doubt, but the flag comes to Argentina’s rescue.

Lamine Yamal produces a brilliant pass to send Ferran Torres through on goal, and the forward calmly slots into the bottom corner. The celebrations begin, but they are quickly cut short as the assistant referee raises the flag for offside.

Torres had timed his run just too early, meaning Spain remain only one goal ahead with Argentina still clinging on in the final stages of extra time.

Spain’s breakthrough finally arrives after 105 minutes of frustration, and it is a moment of pure persistence.

Pedro Porro sends a deep cross towards the back post, where Nico Williams sneaks in behind the defence and keeps the move alive with a clever header back into the danger area. Ferran Torres is waiting and makes no mistake, smashing the finish into the roof of the net.

After a string of missed chances and a disallowed goal, Spain have finally found the breakthrough in the World Cup final. Argentina now have to chase the game with just minutes left and 10 men on the pitch.

Spain have their breakthrough, and it comes almost immediately after the restart.

Ferran Torres is in the right place at the right time, finishing off Spain’s latest attack to put them ahead in extra time. After 105 minutes of frustration, missed chances and one disallowed goal, Spain finally have the lead they have been chasing.

Argentina’s resistance is finally broken, and now they have to find a response with 10 men and the World Cup slipping away. One goal could still change everything, but Spain are just 15 minutes away from lifting the trophy.

Half-time in extra time and the World Cup final remains locked at 0-0.

Spain continue to dominate the ball and have created the better chances, but Argentina’s defence has held firm despite being down to 10 men. The biggest issue for Argentina is still at the other end. they are yet to register a shot on target in the final.

And yet, Spain cannot afford to relax. One Messi moment, one counter-attack or one set piece could still turn everything around in the final 15 minutes. The trophy remains anyone’s.

The tension is starting to spill over on the touchline. Every small collision on the pitch is drawing a reaction from both benches, with substitutes and coaching staff getting involved in the latest flashpoint.

One more heavy challenge or controversial decision could easily turn this into a bigger confrontation between the two sides.

On the pitch, Messi tries to slow things down and build another Argentina attack, but his pass towards the left is read well by Porro, who steps in to break it up. The final remains on a knife edge.

Messi shows a glimpse of magic as Argentina finally break forward. The captain needs just two touches, one to escape his marker, another to whip a brilliant outside-of-the-foot pass towards Simeone.

Simeone is then taken out by Cucurella as he tries to continue the move, but the referee waves play on. Argentina are furious, and they feel they should have had a free kick in a dangerous position.

Spain survive another scare as the first period of extra time comes to an end with the final still locked at 0-0.

Spain are still finding openings. Nico Williams delivers another dangerous cross from the left and Mikel Merino times his run perfectly, but he can only glance his header fractionally wide of the far post.

Argentina have now fully committed to survival mode. Marcos Senesi replaces Julián Álvarez, leaving them with a more defensive setup for the remainder of extra time as they try to drag this final towards penalties

Lamine Yamal tries to produce another trademark moment from distance, curling an effort towards goal, but this one rises over the bar.

Spain continue to push forward, while Argentina make a defensive change to protect what they have. Marcos Senesi comes on for Julián Álvarez as they add fresh legs at the back with the final approaching its closing stages.

The goal remains disallowed and Spain respond with fresh legs. Rodri and Aymeric Laporte make way, with Eric García and Martín Zubimendi introduced for the final stages of extra time.

The decision continues to frustrate Spain, with the foul in the build-up judged to be on Nicolás Otamendi after his foot was stood on. It looked like a soft one, but the referee’s call stands and Argentina remain level.

Spain think they have finally broken through, but the goal is ruled out almost immediately.

Mikel Merino does brilliantly to keep the ball alive inside the box and the loose ball falls to Nico Williams, who calmly slots past Emi Martínez and wheels away in celebration.

But the referee blows for a foul on the Argentina goalkeeper during the build-up, and the goal does not stand. VAR takes a look, but the decision remains. Argentina survive another huge scare as Spain continue to push for the winner.

Spain are inches away again. Pedri sends a flat cross into the box and Nico Williams sneaks in at the back post with a glancing header, but Emi Martínez is down quickly to his right to push it away.

It is another save added to a growing list from the Argentina goalkeeper, his 11th of the final. Spain continue to create the chances, while Argentina are still waiting for their first shot on target as they try to survive with 10 men.

Spain have a huge opportunity with the final kick of normal time. Ferran Torres goes down on the edge of the box after the contact, and the referee points to the spot of the foul.

The VAR check confirms Enzo Fernández’s red card will stand, although the review was more about giving everyone a chance to calm down after the flashpoint. Argentina are furious, but they now have to defend one final dangerous set piece before extra time begins.

Drama at the death. Enzo Fernández is sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Pau Cubarsí, leaving Argentina with 10 men just moments before the end of normal time.

Argentina had finally managed to create a rare opening, but Spain cleared and quickly turned defence into attack, with Nico Williams forcing a save at the other end. As Argentina tried to restart their own move, Fernández arrived late on Cubarsí and caught the defender with a reckless challenge.

The midfielder protests the decision, but the referee has no hesitation. Argentina must now see out the final moments of stoppage time a man down.

Argentina try to work something from the free kick, with Messi making a run into the box, but the referee waves play on after he goes down.

Spain immediately break the other way and Nico Williams takes matters into his own hands, unleashing a powerful strike from distance. The effort troubles Emi Martínez, who cannot hold it cleanly, but Argentina survive as the ball rebounds away. The final remains locked at 0-0 with extra time moments away.

Argentina have a late chance to send a dangerous ball into the box after Messi is blocked off, earning a free kick in a promising position. The big question: can they make this moment count?

There are only four minutes of added time, with three of those already accounted for by the hydration break. It looks increasingly likely that this World Cup final is heading into extra time, with neither side able to find the breakthrough after 90 minutes.

We have reached the part of the final where every touch feels like it could decide everything. One moment of quality, one mistake or one set piece could be enough to settle the biggest prize in football.

Spain continue to control the game and create openings, but Argentina’s defence is refusing to crack. Nico Williams delivers another dangerous ball from the right, with Aymeric Laporte rising to meet it, but the header lacks power and goes straight into Emi Martínez’s hands.

Argentina may feel they can still steal this in a single moment, while Spain will be wondering how much longer they can dominate without finding the breakthrough.