Pure football! Spain humble Argentina to win second FIFA World Cup, Rodri wins Golden Ball over Messi

NEW YORK: Spain are FIFA World Cup champions again. Despite being a rare team that maintains consistency in playing the finest football, Spain was unable to convert it to cup glory in 2014,2018 nor in 2022. They are back to winning ways, and how.

Spain started the match with sheer intensity, playing measured passes and maintaining possession. From the very start of the game, the momentum was shifting in favour of the Spanish side. Captain Rodri gave out a lordly performance, anchoring the midfield while the defence, led by Aymeric Laporte, could not be more resolute. Argentina was far from recognisable from their previous outing as they kept aside their intense game and were desperate to win the ball back.

Spain came up with a plan, and they implemented it meticulously. Messi had just two touches during the entire first half, and he looked perturbed by the team's inability to cope with the precision football put out on display by Spain. The match stat at one point showed Spain attempting 16 shots on target while Argentina had none.

Argentina gambled with few changes (De Paul going back and the introduction of Paredes) at the start of the second half, but it did little to destabilise a Spain team that was playing textbook football. This led to the game taking an aggressive tone, with Argentina relying more on physical play to win battles and change the course of the game. Paredes earned a yellow for a reckless tackle on Olmo, while the referee gave marching orders to Enzo by the end of the full time for a dangerous tackle on Cubarsi.

Spain mulled a late coup, and there was no one better to make that happen than Merino, who can ace in the false number nine role. Merino did the trick and paved the way for Nico Williams Junior to score a late winner. However, the referee spotted a foul by Merino on Paredes, and the goal was cancelled.

This led to a war of words, while debate resurfaced about the frequent errors committed by officials in favour of Argentina. The wait ended in the second half of the additional minute as a long cross from Merino was headed inside by Nico Williams, which fell into the right spot as Ferran Torres had all the time in the world to smash the winner and break Argentinian hearts.

The tail end of the game showed glimpses of old Argentina as the Spanish defences fell apart a little and Messi ran across the pitch like he had acres of space for himself. The little magician tried his tricks, giving late heacahes for Spain, and the millions watching the game had their heartbeats rising.

However, Spain and their players looked totally nonchalant to the threats from Argentina, and it was not too late for the referee to blow the final whistle and announce to the world the new football champions.

Chaos also erupted after the final whistle as Argentinian player Paredes was shown a red for attacking Spanish player Gavi. The attack and the red card summed up how the final game was for Argentina.

Rodri (Spain) - Golden Ball for Player of the tournament

Cubarsi (Spain) - Young player of the tournament

Unai Simon (Spain) - Golden Glove for best goalkeeper of the tournament