Spain are champions of the world again. Forget the post-match chaos and the flying punches from a frustrated Argentina squad. The real story at MetLife Stadium was how Luis de la Fuente’s side choked the life out of the defending champions before striking with surgical precision in extra time.
Most people will point to Ferran Torres’s dramatic 106th-minute winner as the sole reason Spain lifted their second World Cup. Honestly, it runs deeper than that. This final was won by a relentless midfield suffocating an aging Argentina side and smart substitutions that made the difference when legs grew heavy.
Here's how every Spanish player rated on the grandest stage in New Jersey.
The Defensive Foundation
Unai Simón — 7/10
He didn't have a single direct shot on target to save during the entire 120 minutes because his backline was so solid. What he did do was sweep up danger perfectly behind a high defensive line. His distribution stayed calm even when Argentina tried to press early on.
Pedro Porro — 7.5/10
An energetic performance on the right flank. He kept dangerous overlapping runs quiet and managed to help Lamine Yamal double team down the wing. His crossing was dangerous all evening.
Pau Cubarsí — 8/10
The teenager played like a veteran of three World Cup finals. He stood tall against Julián Alvarez, tracked Lionel Messi’s dropped runs, and showed zero fear. Getting crunched by Enzo Fernández for the game-changing red card showed his willingness to put his body on the line for the team.
Aymeric Laporte — 7.5/10
Total aerial dominance. He cut out countless long balls meant for Argentina’s quick forwards and nearly scored himself with a powerful header from a corner in the second half.
Marc Cucurella — 7/10
He almost opened the scoring with a late run into the box, only blocked by a last-ditch Argentine intervention. He dealt well with Rodrigo De Paul's aggression and kept his composure when things turned physical.
Midfield Mastery
How Rodri Controlled the Tempo
Rodri — 8.5/10 (Man of the Match)
The best midfielder in the world did what he always does. He finished with 116 touches, dictated the entire speed of the match, and made sure Argentina couldn't string together simple transition passes. By the time he went off in extra time, his job was already done. He broke Argentine spirits by simply keeping the ball.
Fabián Ruiz — 6.5/10
The weakest link in the starting midfield unit, though far from terrible. He gave the ball away in bad areas a couple of times but worked incredibly hard to recover possession before being subbed off.
Dani Olmo — 7/10
He occupied spaces between the lines smartly and tested Emiliano Martínez with a sharp shot. He linked the midfield with the wingers effectively during prolonged spells of dominance.
The Attackers and Game Changers
Lamine Yamal — 8/10
A constant nightmare for Nicolás Tagliafico. Every single time he got the ball, he looked to drive forward. He forced an elite, full-stretch save out of Martínez with a wicked curling effort.
Mikel Oyarzabal — 6/10
He worked hard pressing from the front but lacked the cutting edge needed to break down a deep defensive block. He struggled to find space in the box before making way.
Alex Baena — 6.5/10
Solid energy out wide but couldn't quite find the final killer pass to open up the defense during his time on the pitch.
The Impact Substitutes
Ferran Torres — 8.5/10
Exactly what you want from a substitute in a cagey, high-stakes final. He injected instant pace into the frontline when he entered at the hour mark. His clinical, left-footed finish from Nico Williams’s smart header was a moment of pure class that settled the tournament.
Nico Williams — 7.5/10
Brought dynamic movement and direct threat to a tired game. His unselfish, cushioned header to set up Torres was perfectly weighted and showed incredible vision under heavy pressure.
Pedri — 7/10
Helped Spain keep complete control of the ball after Enzo Fernández was sent off. He kept the team moving forward calmly during extra time.
To build a winning international squad capable of dominating tournaments like this, you need to study how Spain transitions their possession into defensive blocks. Take a look at structural tactical breakdowns of De la Fuente's high-pressing system to understand how they restrict opponents to zero shots on target.
