Argentina 0 – 1 Spain

WORLDCUP · July 19, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

Spain over Argentina, one to nothing, in what was an absolute dismantling on the World Cup stage tonight.

From the opening whistle, Spain owned this game in a way that was almost uncomfortable to watch. Sixty-five percent of the ball, twenty shots, twelve on frame — and Argentina's goalkeeper was the only reason this wasn't a rout, turning away eleven attempts over the course of ninety minutes. Eleven saves. That number tells you everything about where the pressure lived tonight.

The lone goal was all Spain needed, because Argentina simply could not generate anything going forward. Lionel Messi, the man this nation leans on in moments like this, managed just one shot the entire match. One. The Albiceleste finished with two total shots and not a single attempt on target. That is a historic level of offensive futility against the world's best.

Lamine Yamal was relentless, leading all players with four shots and constantly forcing the issue. And Pau Cubarsí was everywhere — one hundred twenty-one accurate passes running the game from the back, plus eleven defensive interventions when Argentina did venture forward. He was the engine of this entire performance.

Argentina's discipline also cracked under the weight of it — four yellow cards and a red, which only made a desperate situation worse in the final stages.

Spain was simply a different class tonight. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 173 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Nico González (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 2'

Foul by Pedro Porro (Spain). 2'

Álex Baena (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 4'

Foul by Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina). 4'

Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Dani Olmo. 5'

Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 8'

Foul by Lamine Yamal (Spain). 8'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Lisandro Martínez. 12'

Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina). 14'

Dani Olmo (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 14'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 16'

Foul by Álex Baena (Spain). 16'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina). 18'

Dani Olmo (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 18'

Enzo Fernández (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 20'

Foul by Dani Olmo (Spain). 20'

Offside, Spain. Mikel Oyarzabal is caught offside. 21'

Offside, Argentina. Nico González is caught offside. 22'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Rodrigo De Paul. 23'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 24'

Foul by Rodri (Spain). 24'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 25'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 27'

Handball by Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina). 28'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina). 29'

Lamine Yamal (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 29'

Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing. 33'

Foul by Rodri (Spain). 33'

Foul by Julián Alvarez (Argentina). 34'

Pedro Porro (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 34'

Offside, Spain. Marc Cucurella is caught offside. 35'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina). 36'

Rodri (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 36'

Foul by Julián Alvarez (Argentina). 38'

Rodri (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing. 38'

Attempt saved. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Fabián Ruiz. 39'

Foul by Lisandro Martínez (Argentina). 41'

Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 41'

Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 41'

Attempt missed. Marc Cucurella (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Fabián Ruiz. 43'

Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Otamendi replaces Lisandro Martínez because of an injury. 44'

Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. 45'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 45'+3'

Foul by Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain). 45'+3'

First Half ends, Spain 0, Argentina 0. 45'+4'

Substitution, Argentina. Leandro Paredes replaces Nico González. 45'

Second Half begins Spain 0, Argentina 0. 45'

Attempt saved. Álex Baena (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). 46'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Aymeric Laporte. 48'

Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 50'

Foul by Álex Baena (Spain). 50'

Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing. 51'

Foul by Álex Baena (Spain). 51'

Foul by Leandro Paredes (Argentina). 52'

Rodri (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 52'

Leandro Paredes (Argentina) is shown the yellow card. 52'

Julián Alvarez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 54'

Foul by Pedro Porro (Spain). 54'

Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 54'

Foul by Álex Baena (Spain). 54'

Foul by Julián Alvarez (Argentina). 56'

Aymeric Laporte (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 56'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Gonzalo Montiel. 56'

Substitution, Argentina. Nahuel Molina replaces Gonzalo Montiel. 58'

Foul by Leandro Paredes (Argentina). 60'

Pedro Porro (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 60'

Attempt blocked. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 61'

Substitution, Spain. Ferran Torres replaces Mikel Oyarzabal. 62'

Substitution, Spain. Pedri replaces Fabián Ruiz. 62'

Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina). 62'

Ferran Torres (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing. 62'

Attempt saved. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Pedri. 64'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez. 64'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Leandro Paredes. 65'

Attempt blocked. Dani Olmo (Spain) header from very close range is blocked. 65'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Nicolás Tagliafico. 66'

Attempt saved. Ferran Torres (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Lamine Yamal with a cross. 67'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 67'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 70'

Substitution, Argentina. Facundo Medina replaces Cristian Romero because of an injury. 70'

Substitution, Argentina. Giuliano Simeone replaces Rodrigo De Paul. 70'

Substitution, Spain. Nico Williams replaces Álex Baena. 75'

Substitution, Spain. Mikel Merino replaces Dani Olmo. 75'

Foul by Leandro Paredes (Argentina). 76'

Mikel Merino (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 76'

Attempt saved. Pedri (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Rodri. 77'

Attempt saved. Pau Cubarsí (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Rodri. 77'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Nahuel Molina. 78'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Nicolás Tagliafico. 80'

Attempt saved. Aymeric Laporte (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). 81'

Foul by Giuliano Simeone (Argentina). 81'

Marc Cucurella (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 81'

Enzo Fernández (Argentina). 82'

(Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 82'

Enzo Fernández (Argentina) is shown the yellow card. 82'

Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina). 84'

Mikel Merino (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 84'

Attempt missed. Ferran Torres (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mikel Merino with a through ball. 87'

Attempt missed. Rodri (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Pau Cubarsí. 89'

Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. 90'

Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+1'

Foul by Ferran Torres (Spain). 90'+1'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+1'

Foul by Aymeric Laporte (Spain). 90'+1'

Cristian Romero (Argentina) is shown the yellow card. 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Nico Williams (Spain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Pedro Porro. 90'+3'

Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina). 90'+3'

Pau Cubarsí (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+3'

Second yellow card to Enzo Fernández (Argentina) for a bad foul. 90'+3'

Delay in match because of an injury Pau Cubarsí (Spain). 90'+3'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 90'+5'

Foul by Leandro Paredes (Argentina). 90'+6'

Ferran Torres (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+6'

Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). 90'+8'

Corner, Spain. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez. 90'+8'

Second Half ends, Spain 0, Argentina 0. 90'+9'

First Half Extra Time begins Spain 0, Argentina 0. 90'

Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 92'

Foul by Pedro Porro (Spain). 92'

Attempt saved. Nico Williams (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). Assisted by Pedri with a through ball. 93'

Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 93'

Foul by Pedri (Spain). 93'

Foul by Giuliano Simeone (Argentina). 94'

Aymeric Laporte (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 94'

Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 96'

Foul by Mikel Merino (Spain). 96'

Delay in match because of an injury Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). 98'

Substitution, Spain. Martín Zubimendi replaces Rodri. 99'

Substitution, Spain. Eric García replaces Aymeric Laporte. 99'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 99'

Foul by Lionel Messi (Argentina). 100'

Pau Cubarsí (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 100'

Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Pedri. 101'

Substitution, Argentina. Marcos Senesi replaces Julián Alvarez. 102'

Attempt missed. Mikel Merino (Spain) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nico Williams with a cross. 103'

Attempt blocked. Nico Williams (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pedri. 104'

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time. 105'

Foul by Giuliano Simeone (Argentina). 105'+3'

Pedro Porro (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 105'+3'

First Half Extra Time ends, Spain 0, Argentina 0. 105'+3'

Second Half Extra Time begins Spain 0, Argentina 0. 105'

Goal! Spain 1, Argentina 0. Ferran Torres (Spain) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Nico Williams with a headed pass. 106'

Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 108'

Foul by Lamine Yamal (Spain). 108'

Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina). 111'

Marc Cucurella (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 111'

Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 111'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina). 111'

Mikel Merino (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 111'

Offside, Spain. Nico Williams is caught offside. 113'

Offside, Spain. Ferran Torres is caught offside. 113'

Leandro Paredes (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing. 114'

Foul by Nico Williams (Spain). 114'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Eric García. 115'

Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Giuliano Simeone. 117'

Delay in match because of an injury Mikel Merino (Spain). 117'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 118'

Marcos Senesi (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing. 119'

Foul by Nico Williams (Spain). 119'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Pau Cubarsí. 120'

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. 120'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Martín Zubimendi. 120'+1'

Attempt missed. Giuliano Simeone (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Nicolás Tagliafico following a corner. 120'+2'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina). 120'+3'

Pau Cubarsí (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 120'+3'

Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 120'+4'

Foul by Eric García (Spain). 120'+4'

Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 120'+5'

Foul by Marc Cucurella (Spain). 120'+5'

Second Half Extra Time ends, Spain 1, Argentina 0. 120'+5'

Match ends, Spain 1, Argentina 0.