Subtitute Ferran Torres’ first goal of this World Cup was the goal of his life, and it has put Spain back atop the football world.

Denying Lionel Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated would be his last World Cup match, Torres scored in extra time as Spain - in a match they simply dominated - ended Argentina’s reign with a 1-0 win in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the box in the opening minute of the second half of extra time and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.

“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population.

Maybe not by them - but certainly for them.

It was Spain’s second title, this trophy getting added to the one claimed in 2010. And there’s no question about the centre of the soccer universe now, not after this display.

European champions Spain allowed only one goal in eight matches at the tournament, setting a World Cup record for fewest goals allowed by a champion. And this title, combined with the World Cup won by Spain’s women in 2023, makes the European nation the first to hold both the men’s and women’s titles simultaneously.

“I feel sad,” said 39-year-old Argentina captain Messi, who was moved to tears after receiving his runner-up medal and staring into the crowd at Argentina supporters. “They were better, to be honest.”

The score indicates this match was close, but only one team was in command.

Spain took the game’s first 20 shots on goal before Argentina - desperate for an equaliser - got their first attempt off in the second half of extra time.

Spain took nine of the game’s first 10 corner kicks, and only a World Cup final-record 12 saves by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez gave the 2022 champions a shot at going back-to-back.

Spain are now unbeaten in their last 38 matches - 29 wins, nine draws - and now are the outright holder of the longest such streak by any European team ever. Italy went 37 matches (28 wins, nine draws) from October 2018 through September 2021, before Spain ended that streak.

And for the last two-plus years, nobody has beaten Spain. Not even Messi. An Argentina team that was the kings of the late-game rally in this tournament had no answer this time.

Messi took a corner kick with about four minutes left before the final whistle and the ball took a fortunate skip toward reserve Giuliano Simeone, who sent it high and over the crossbar, holding his head in disbelief afterward.

“When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous,” Torres said. “At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again.”

The win made Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65, the oldest coach ever to lead a team to the World Cup title.

“We are world champions,” de la Fuente said. “It was together we reached this stage.”

There was some pushing and shoving after the final whistle, which was quickly cleaned up and Spain commenced its celebration as most Argentina players sat on the turf in disbelief.

Cooler heads prevailed, and Spain’s players lined up minutes later to form an honour guard of sorts for Argentina’s squad to walk through on its way to the stage for the runner-up medals.

Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after getting his second yellow card, meaning Argentina was forced to finish the match with only 10 players.

Fernandez was carded for a reckless play that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air, and the card came out immediately.