SPAIN REIGNS ONCE AGAIN

This is how good Spain was at the World Cup: Not even Lionel Messi had any answers.

And when it was over, Spain walked off with the trophy.

Messi simply walked off in tears.

Spain is back atop the soccer world for a second time, after Ferran Torres' first goal of this year's World Cup — but unquestionably the most important — gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champion Argentina in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.

"It was a goal scored by 47 million people," Torres said, referring to Spain's population.

Maybe not by them — but certainly for them.

The goal came with Argentina down to 10 men, after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late in regulation following a reckless tackle. Tempers flared then, and flared again after the final whistle with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and players from both sides engaging in what appeared to be some pushing and shoving.

In the end, though, Spain denied Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated was his final World Cup match.

Torres, a second-half substitute, pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar in the 106th minute.

From there, the airtight defense that dominated opponents throughout the tournament came through one final time. Spain — which also won the title in 2010 — allowed only one goal in eight matches in this World Cup run, setting a record for fewest goals allowed by a champion.

"I feel pride, to be honest," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who at 65 is now the oldest man to lead a team to a World Cup title.

"Accompanying them on this journey is an honor.

"I spoke to my players, and they said: 'Look, we've won everything, coach. We've won everything,'" he added.

"And that is beautiful."

A tournament first

This title, combined with the Women's World Cup won by Spain in 2023, makes the European nation the first to hold both the men's and women's titles simultaneously. And in the streets of Madrid — probably many other places in Spain as well — countless people spilled into the streets, celebrating Sunday's victory long into the wee hours of Monday morning.

The score indicates this match was close, but only one team was in command.

Spain took the game's first 20 shots on goal before Argentina — desperate for an equalizer — got its first attempt off in the second half of extra time. Spain took nine of the game's first 10 corner kicks, and only a World Cup final-record 12 saves by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez gave the 2022 champions a shot at going back-to-back.

"Dibu was nothing short of exceptional," De la Fuente said, referring to Argentina's keeper by his nickname.

Spain is now unbeaten in its last 38 matches — 29 wins, nine draws — and is the outright holder of the longest such streak by any European men's team ever. Italy went 37 matches (28 wins, nine draws) from October 2018 through September 2021, before Spain ended that streak.

And for the last two-plus years, no team has beaten Spain. Not even Messi's comeback kings, the lords of the late-game rally at this tournament, had an answer this time.

"We lost the game, and we accept that," Scaloni said. "That doesn't mean that we will forget everything we've done so far, so I'd like to thank my people, my players and the country. I can tell them that we played our hearts out."

Surviving a late scare

A Messi corner kick with about four minutes left before the final whistle saw the ball take a fortunate skip toward substitute Giuliano Simeone — who sent it high over the crossbar, leaving him holding his head in disbelief.

"When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous," Torres said. "At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again."

Despite the post-match scuffles, Spain also paid tribute to the former champion. The players lined up to form a guard of honor for Argentina's squad to walk through on its way to the stage to collect its runner-up medals from United States President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"I think, now, I'm in a cloud," said Spain captain Rodri, who was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

Argentina was forced to finish the match down a man after Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after getting his second yellow card for a collision that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air.

Simple and flawless

It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event that played out over the US, Canada and Mexico. Because there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than all other editions — more than 300, nearly three per match.

Except, of course, when Spain was involved.

Spain's plan was simple and flawless: Hold the ball as much as possible, denying opponents any hint of a chance.

It worked, all the way to the end.

A final unlike any other

The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer.

Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira were all part of a halftime show that also featured Burna Boy, Jason Sudeikis in character as Ted Lasso, and even some of the Muppets.

Jennifer Hudson, Post Malone and Tom Cruise had roles in the closing ceremony, which actually preceded the match.

A slew of actors, athletes and other celebrities were there: Spain's Javier Bardem left happy, Luciana Barroso Damon — the wife of actor Matt Damon — probably did not, considering she was wearing the colors of her native Argentina.

They all came to see a show. So did 80,000 other people, not to mention perhaps as many as two billion watching around the globe.

Spain didn't disappoint.

No team has won back-to-back men's World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, and Spain kept Argentina from pulling off that repeat.

"As I told the lads before the game, we have to go for the game, we need to face them, we have to look to their eyes and say we want this game," Rodri said.

"And then, life gives you the World Cup, or not."

Life didn't give Spain the World Cup, though, Spain took it.

AP