Spain claimed a second World Cup title in New Jersey, subduing an Argentina team built around Lionel Messi, who offered little beyond resistance in what may be his final World Cup appearance.
Key facts
- Spain won their second World Cup trophy, described as entirely deserved
- The final was played near New York, in New Jersey
- Argentina, the other 2022 finalist, offered little beyond resistance
- Lionel Messi, 39, may have played his final World Cup match
- Spain's route involved beating the other 2022 finalist before overcoming Argentina
Spain secured a second World Cup title with a victory over Argentina, in a final that Guardian writer Barney Ronay described as bringing Spain “the glory of an entirely deserved second trophy.”
According to the Guardian, Spain’s path to the trophy involved beating the other 2022 finalist before “suffocating Argentina as they dried out in the sun.” The result left Argentina offering “almost nothing beyond a gnarled and gristly sense of resistance.”
The piece framed Argentina as a team built on “faith, devotional energy and a belief in the frankly irrational magic” of Lionel Messi, described as their “lone scurrying 39-year-old genius.” On this occasion, Ronay wrote, that magic deserted them.
The final was staged in New Jersey, near New York. The Guardian evoked an “undertone of sadness” surrounding Messi and the setting, suggesting the veteran may be “gone from this stage now for good.”
Ronay likened Messi’s exit to “a Prospero giving his final address to the crowd,” underscoring the sense that this may mark the end of the forward’s World Cup career, with Spain’s system ultimately proving decisive over individual brilliance.
Why it matters
Spain's second World Cup title marks a triumph of team system over reliance on a single star, a recurring theme in modern football. The final may also represent the closing chapter of Lionel Messi's World Cup career, a moment of significance for fans worldwide.