Spain defeats Argentina 1-0 to win second World Cup

European champions Spain won their second World Cup on Sunday, defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time.

Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game — his first of the tournament — kicking in a cross by Nico Williams, who had a goal 10 minutes early disallowed for a foul. A second goal by Torres in extra time was deemed offside and disallowed.

"It was a goal scored by 47 million people — it wasn't even mine or from the 26 players," said Torres, who had entered the game as a substitute. "It was destined to ​happen. It was meant to be a winner."

Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente became the oldest World Cup-winning coach at age 65.

"I'm so proud of this generation of footballers," De la Fuente said. "They're excellent, world-class ​footballers with exceptional talent," he told reporters after the match.

"I'm very moved. Looking back and thinking about them, we've won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players."

US President Donald Trump presented the trophy to Spain, with the leaders of the other co-host nations, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, also on stage as the medals were handed out at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Bill Einreinhofer, who lives in East Rutherford, said local restaurants closed off their parking lots, set-up tables, chairs and large screen TVs for watch parties, to which everyone was invited regardless of which, if any, team they were supporting.

"Because traffic was expected to be terrible, many people walked to the parties. The day turned out to be a real community event. I think that qualifies as a win," he told China Daily.

Spain's other World Cup championship was a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in 2010.

Following a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in its first game, Spain went on to win its next seven games, allowing only one goal while scoring 14. Spain's defense did not even allow Argentina a shot on goal in regulation, while Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez set a World Cup final with 10 saves.

The victory gave Spain a record 38-game unbeaten streak in men's international soccer.

The loss for Argentina ended a drive, led by Lionel Messi, to win back-to-back World Cups, a feat accomplished only by Italy in 1934-38, and Brazil in 1958-62.

Messi, 39, who was playing in his sixth World Cup, and third World Cup final, left a cryptic message on Instagram before the game, reading: "The best part of all these years was never just the titles, but the journey itself. Sharing the day-to-day with this group, competing together, picking ourselves up during tough times, and enjoying every step of the way." The post showed a pair of shoes with the words "Last Tango", suggesting that Sunday could be the last World Cup game of his career. Over that time he has scored 21 goals in 34 games.

"I was personally shocked by Argentina's poor performance, and wanted Messi to have his ride into the sunset," Ben Fraternale, a New York-based multidisciplinary artist who was filming the World Cup final, told China Daily. "But ultimately I walked out of the stadium feeling grateful to have had this life experience and meet so many people from across the planet."

"In victory and defeat, everyone always remained gracious, and the most surreal element throughout it all was seeing soccer get a massive foothold in America," Fraternale said.

France's Kylian Mbappe won the Golden Boot, his second in a row, with 10 goals in the tournament. Spain's center-back Pau Cubarsi, 19, was recognized as the Young Player of the Tournament, an honor also bestowed on Mbappe in 2018 when France won its second World Cup.

The next World Cup in 2030 will again see three host countries — Spain, Portugal and Morocco.