Ferran Torres needed 109 minutes to separate the two best national teams on the planet. His extra-time strike gave Spain a 1-0 win over Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final at the New Jersey stadium, securing La Roja’s second men’s title and cementing a run of dominance that now spans sixteen major trophies in five years.
Spain are the first nation to hold the men’s and women’s World Cup crowns simultaneously. Captain Rodri claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Kylian Mbappé took the Golden Boot — the first player to win it twice — while 19-year-old Lamine Yamal delivered the kind of performance that prompted the BBC to declare he had “completed football.” Across the aisle, Lionel Messi’s evening ended in tears, and Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni walked out of his post-match news conference while discussing his future.
The final itself drew mixed reviews. BBC Sport called it “one of the more one-sided finals in recent history,” though the broader tournament — co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — was widely praised for its atmosphere and reach. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who attended along with the Spanish royal family, posted: “WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS. Our national team is tremendous. Thanks, Team.”
The team, led by Rodri, was scheduled to land at Madrid airport at 12:50 p.m. local time on Monday. A reception with King Felipe VI at the royal palace was planned for the afternoon, followed by an open-top bus parade through the capital expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans. The celebrations were set to culminate at Cibeles Square, with a stage show beginning at 6 p.m. and the squad arriving around 9 p.m.
“We are really looking forward to returning to Spain,” defender Marc Cucurella said. “Many people couldn’t be here and we want to celebrate with everyone. I think we deserve a good celebration.”
Those celebrations had already turned tragic. A 13-year-old boy died in the town of Rodrigo when a stone pillar of a fountain collapsed under the weight of several people who had climbed onto it. The pillar fell onto those standing in the water, killing the teenager and injuring two others, according to local reports. The town declared a three-day mourning period.
For Everton, the tournament carried a personal footnote. Jordan Pickford, Spain’s opposite number in the England squad that fell to Argentina in the semifinals, drew praise for his performances across the competition. Back at club level, Everton opened their preseason with a 4-0 friendly win over Dundee on Saturday, with Beto among the scorers. Thierno Barry, the striker linked with a move to Goodison Park, posted a message about what he hopes the season holds. Adam Aznou, who joined the club a year ago, may be on the move despite recent speculation suggesting otherwise.
The domestic calendar waits for no one. Spain’s players will have little time to rest before their clubs come calling.
Sources:
- Yahoo Sports — Monday’s Everton News: Spain World Cup champions, Barry speaks out, Aznou rumours
- Yahoo Sports — World champions Spain set for hero’s welcome; boy dies in celebration
- BBC Sport — World Cup coverage