Read for 5 minutes20 July 2026 04:00 PM IST Spain added another star to their jersey by winning their second World Cup with a 1-0 win over defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday. Spain became the first nation to win the World Cup in both men’s and women’s football when Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the much-anticipated final in extra time in the 106th minute. The Luis de la Fuente-coached side opened their World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde and Torres missed an easy chance in

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Read 3 minutes20 Jul 2026 02:10 PM IST Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was overcome with emotion and broke down in tears following Sunday’s 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final. Scaloni’s men were on course to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, but Luis de la Fuente’s Spain proved too much for La Albiceleste, with Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike stunning Scaloni’s men. Also read | The biggest sunset of a World Cup football career came as Messi made a tearful exit from the final The 48-year-old’s contract with the

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Acting like his principal, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente waited patiently to get his hands on the world’s most prized sporting trophy. He didn’t rush, perhaps because he knew the trophy would be his and the wonderful band he assembled would be in contention for the next four years; Perhaps he was more attracted to the journey than the destination, or perhaps he knew that his team was not yet done accumulating trophies on the Federation mantle. He and the rest of the world could see the news of a football dynasty that could rule the world for the

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Read 3 minutesUpdated: 20 July 2026 09:03 AM IST Lionel Messi collected his FIFA World Cup 2026 runners-up silver medal from US President Donald Trump after a memorable match against Spain at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday evening. The highs of a 2022 victory were quickly erased as he exited the podium. The Argentina talisman broke down in tears as he said goodbye before walking down the players’ tunnel. Messi’s forgettable night effectively illustrated Argentina’s woes against Luis de la Fuente’s Spanish unit. A 106th-minute strike from Ferran Torres was the only goal to show for their dominance in the

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“The coach,” Johan Cruyff liked to say, “is the most important player in the team.” Almost three decades after transforming Spanish football, the 2026 World Cup seemed the ultimate testament to that philosophy. Spain reached the final under Luis de la Fuente. Standing in front of him was Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni – an Argentinian who earned his UEFA Pro License through the Spanish coaching system. De la Fuente was, quite appropriately, one of Scaloni’s coaches. Also read | Ferran Torres extra-time strike defeats Argentina; Spain won the title The subplot of the finale was teacher versus student. Still, it was

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Read 3 minutes20 Jul 2026 03:36 AM IST Ferran Torres’ name will go down in Spanish football history as the Barcelona man helped Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final on Sunday in the second half of extra time. It was Spain’s second World Cup title, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final in 2010. The match ended in a goalless draw after 90 minutes, requiring extra time. Argentina were down to 10 after Enzo Fernandes was sent off in second-half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card. Fernandez was booked for reckless play that sent Spain

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Read for 2 minutes20 Jul 2026 04:16 AM IST Kylian Mbappe won back-to-back Golden Boots after the French sensation topped the goal-scoring charts with 10 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He overtook nearest rival Lionel Messi who failed to score or assist in the final against Spain, finishing the tournament with 8 goals. It was Mbappe’s second successive Golden Boot win over Messi, the Frenchman won the award in Qatar as well as Argentina with 7 goals. Other awards went to World Cup winners Spain as goalkeeper Unai Simon won the Golden Glove after conceding only once in

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Read for 5 minutesNew DelhiUpdated: 19 July 2026 08:02 PM IST One has to struggle to find the great honor that is missing Zinedine Zidanes trophy cabinet. However, what he loves most is his debut France shirt. Sent on as a substitute against the Czech Republic in 1994, he scored twice in a 2–2 draw. France’s first World Cup title came four years later, sealed by two headed goals against Brazil in the final. The European Championship followed two years later. Then, in 2006, five goal contributions led Les Bleus to another World Cup final. Following Marco Materazzi’s off-colour remarks

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Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) dribbles between England’s Anthony Gordon (18) and Harry Kane (9) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Lynn Sladky) FIFA World Cup: Every plan to stop Messi has failed. Spain has suffered another blow Years later, it’s a regret for veteran Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. He could not stop Lionel Messi in the Champions League final, neither in 2009 nor in 2011. “You want centre-backs who are ready to drop in just above Messi and not worry about what’s going on behind them,” he later wrote in his

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony: Spain will face Argentina in the 2026 final but before that there will be a spectacular closing ceremony. (Reuters photo) A total of 103 matches have been played and finally, we will now know the winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the defending champions Argentina will face Spain in the final. But before that, the tournament will be held at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey Stadium. FIFA had said on Wednesday that American rapper-singer Post Malone will headline the closing ceremony starting at 11 am IST. It will also feature performances by

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