Torres says destiny carried Spain after World Cup final winner

Ferran Torres came off the bench, broke Argentina’s resistance in the 106th minute and then said Spain’s World Cup triumph had the feel of fate.

The Spain forward scored the only goal of the 2026 final in New Jersey, sealing a 1-0 extra-time victory over the defending champions. Speaking to FIFA’s host broadcaster after the match, Torres said the moment belonged to the whole country, not only the players on the pitch.

“I think in the end the goal came from 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s approximate population. “Today destiny was written, it was made for us to win.”

Spain were far from home for the final, but Torres said the team wanted supporters back in Spain to feel part of it. “We’re far from our people today but we tried to be as close as possible to them,” he said.

The Barcelona forward’s goal was his first of the tournament, according to PA, and it arrived after Argentina had spent long stretches hanging on. PA reported that Spain dominated the contest, while Argentina did not register a shot during the opening 90 minutes.

Argentina’s night became harder just before extra time, when midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez had kept Spain out with a series of interventions before Torres finally found the breakthrough.

Torres described scoring as a release after a tournament in which he said he had faced criticism. “A huge relief,” he said. “I’ve been criticised throughout the whole tournament but, as I said before, destiny was written.”

He also thanked God in his postmatch comments, saying faith had helped him keep going. Torres said God gives him strength and “grants things to those that most deserve them.”

The final also brought another painful ending for Lionel Messi and Argentina. Torres said Spain had been aware of the danger posed by Messi but trusted their own game.

“Finals are hard,” Torres said. “When you have Messi on the opposing team you do get worried but we always backed ourselves and tried to show our football.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni accepted Spain had been the better side, while saying he felt sadness after the defeat. He said he remained proud of his players and what they had put into the campaign.

“They were better, that’s the truth,” Scaloni said. He added that Argentina had to show the same character in defeat that it had shown in victory.

Scaloni said Argentina would own the loss without losing sight of the run that took the team to the final. “That doesn’t mean we’ll stop remembering everything we did to get here,” he said.

This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.