Spain has claimed the World Cup title by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final.
BBC Sport journalist Neil Johnston analyzes the players’ performances from the match held in New Jersey, and you can find how BBC Sport readers rated them at the bottom of the article as well.
Advertisement
Spain
Starting XI
Unai Simon: Rushed out of his box early on, nearly leading to a mistake, but quickly bounced back to aid Spain in adding the World Cup to their European Championship win from two years ago. 7
Marc Cucurella: Assertively pushed forward multiple times and narrowly missed a chance in the first half that went just wide. 7
Aymeric Laporte: Solid in defense throughout the tournament, he once again ensured Spain achieved a remarkable seventh clean sheet in eight matches. 7
Pau Cubarsi: Maintained a reassuring presence in defense, going down in history as only the second player since 1966 to complete over 100 passes in a World Cup final. 8
Pedro Porro: Continued to build on his strong semi-final performance and contributed to the play that led to the winning goal. 7
Fabian Ruiz: Played hard in midfield as Argentina struggled to assert themselves. 7
Rodri: Delivered a composed performance in midfield, guiding his country to their first World Cup victory since 2010. 7
Alex Baena: Contributed significantly by being disruptive on the field. 7
Dani Olmo: Created opportunities while being a persistent threat on a memorable day for Spanish football, following their successes in the 2024 Euros and the 2023 Nations League. 7
Lamine Yamal: Finished the tournament with a World Cup winners’ medal at just 19 years old. He made an early impact in the final with the first chance of the match. 7
Mikel Oyarzabal: Impacted the offensive game for Spain but was less effective as the match went on, finishing as Spain’s top scorer of the tournament with five goals. 7
Substitutes
Advertisement
Pedri (62 mins): Brought vitality into the game upon his introduction. 7
Ferran Torres (62 mins): Added speed to Spain’s play and was quick to react when the ball came to him in extra time, eventually securing the victory for his nation. 8
Nico Williams (75 mins): Made a significant impact after waiting patiently for his chance this tournament; Spain appeared dangerous whenever he had the ball, playing a crucial role in the goal. 9
Mikel Merino (75 mins): Played his role effectively as a substitute during a historic day for Spain. 6
Eric Garcia (99 mins): Showed determination after coming on in extra time. 6
Martin Zubimendi (99 mins): Fulfilled his duties as Spain carved out yet another remarkable chapter in their football legacy. 6
Advertisement
Argentina
Starting XI
Emiliano Martinez: Made a crucial save on Lamine Yamal’s free-kick just before the end of normal time. 6
Nicolas Tagliafico: Successfully hindered Spain for much of the match until Argentina’s ten men fell short. 6
Lisandro Martinez: Received a yellow card for a foul against Mikel Oyarzabal and was substituted off due to injury before halftime. 5
Cristian Romero: Kept a lid on Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s leading scorer in the tournament, while also receiving a yellow card for dissent. 6
Gonzalo Montiel: Made an impressive clearance to block a goal from Dani Olmo. 6
Nico Gonzalez: Substituted at halftime after Argentina failed to create any attempts in the opening half. 5
Alexis Mac Allister: Lucky to avoid a caution after a late tackle on Dani Olmo. 5
Enzo Fernandez: Received a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Pau Cubarsi, marking Argentina’s first red card at a World Cup since 2006. 4
Rodrigo De Paul: Failed to make a significant impact and was substituted midway through the second half. 5
Julian Alvarez: Failed to leave a mark in a match dominated by Spain. 5
Lionel Messi: If this was his final World Cup appearance, it ended on a disappointing note for the legend, as he struggled to challenge Spain’s defense and finished the tournament with eight goals – two behind France’s Kylian Mbappé. 6
Substitutes
Advertisement
Nicolas Otamendi (41 mins): Came on in the first half for Lisandro Martinez, trying to make an impact before the red card changed the match dynamics. 5
Leandro Paredes (46 mins): Received a yellow card shortly after his introduction and was involved in post-match conflicts. 3
Nahuel Molina (50 mins): Ended the tournament on a disappointing note as Argentina lost in the final. 5
Facundo Medina (70 mins): Failed to make a difference during a tough game for his team. 4
Giovanni Simeone (70 mins): Struggled to make an impact as Argentina faced ups and downs throughout the match. 4
Marcos Senesi (102 mins): Could not alter the course of the match as Argentina surrendered their sixth consecutive goal, resulting in a final loss. 4