Spain clinched a commanding 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, fueled by Ferran Torres’ remarkable composure and clinical finish in extra time. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the player ratings from Luis de la Fuente’s squad.
Spain
Unai Simon – 5
Simon remained composed despite Argentina’s sustained pressure, conceding only in the 117th minute—a testament to his resilience and tactical discipline.
Pedro Porro – 8
Porro’s relentless energy and overlapping runs provided critical width. His pinpoint cross to Williams at the back post directly led to Spain’s winning goal.
Pau Cubarsi – 6
Cubarsi played with maturity, maintaining calm under pressure. His late-game presence proved valuable despite limited defensive action.
Aymeric Laporte – 6
Laporte was largely inactive defensively but contributed late in normal time with a header that narrowly missed scoring.
Marc Cucurella – 7
Cucurella’s two-way performance continued to shine, contributing both defensively and in attack throughout the match.
Rodri – 7
Rodri controlled the midfield tempo, balancing Spain’s possession. His substitution in extra time aligned with injury management concerns.
Fabian Ruiz – 6
Ruiz maintained an 89% pass completion rate, creating two chances before being replaced in the 67th minute.
Lamine Yamal – 5
Yamal, often targeted by Argentina, remained quiet but showed promise as a super-sub candidate for future tournaments.
Dani Olmo – 5
Olmo struggled to break through despite Spain’s possession dominance, often lacking service in advanced areas.
Alex Baena – 5
Baena partnered well with Cucurella but saw his impact lessened by the introduction of nimble winger Williams.
Mikel Oyarzabal – 6
Oyarzabal pressured Martinez early but was substituted to allow Spain a tactical shift in attack.
Subs
Ferran Torres – 8
Torres’ 89th-minute goal epitomized his class. His duel with Messi and subsequent strike secured Spain’s place in history.
Peter – 6
Peter injected energy into midfield, though his contribution was overshadowed by Rodriguez’s leadership.
Mikel Merino – 5
Merino’s late cross threatened Argentina’s goal but missed the target, costing his team a potential equalizer.
Nico Williams – 7
Williams’ assist for Torres’ goal highlighted hisvalue as a super-sub. His early disallowed strike sparked controversy but energized Spain.
Zubimendi – 5
Zubimendi’s defensive work rate was commendable despite being deployed incorrectly for Spain’s strategy.
Eric Garcia – 6
Garcia provided stability in defense, стартing alongside a makeshift backline during Argentina’s late surge.
Argentina
Emi Martinez – 8
Martinez made several crucial saves but faltered under sustained pressure, particularly in extra time.
Gonzalo Montiel – 5
Montiel failed to impact the game going forward, lacking the cutting edge he provided in previous tournaments.
Cristian Romero – 6
Romero partnered Otamendi effectively until his 70th-minute injury forced an exit.
Lisandro Martinez – 4
Martinez’s red card and subsequent injury ended his World Cup dream prematurely.
Nicolas Tagliafico – 6
Tagliafico contained Yamal effectively but lacked the cutting edge needed in attack.
Rodrigo DePaul – 5
DePaul struggled against Rodri’s dominance in midfield.
Enzo Fernandez – 2
Fernandez’s reckless tackle on Cubarsi and subsequent red card proved disastrous for Argentina’s morale.
Nico Gonzlalez – 6
Gonzlalez showed promise when given space but was withdrawn for tactical reasons.
Lionel Messi – 4
Messi’s absence of magic left Argentina stranded. His lone displacement highlighted his diminished form in this tournament.
Julian Alvarez – 3
Alvarez was ineffective in a defensive lineup, subbed out for a center-back in extra time.
Subs
Nicolas Otamendi – 6
Otamendi’s experience stabilized the defense until Argentina’s last-minute collapse.
Paredes – 2
Paredes’ fouls and post-match conduct after the red card illustrated poor sportsmanship.
Molina – 3
Molina’s own goal opportunity and subsequent physicality after the result cemented his negative legacy.
Medina – 5
Medina’s timely intervention on the final goal helped preserve a slim lead.
Simeone – 5
Simeone’s missed extra-time strike epitomized Argentina’s wasted chances.
