Ferran Torres finally gives Spain a lead against Argentina
Spain have won the World Cup after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.
BBC Sport journalist Neil Johnston assesses how the players performed in New Jersey – and you can see how BBC Sport readers rated them at the bottom of the page too.
Starting XI
Unai Simon: Came charging outside his box in the opening minutes which almost led to disaster before recovering to help Spain add the World Cup to their European triumph of two-years ago. 7
Marc Cucurella: Drove forward on numerous occasions and went close with a rare first-half attempt which whistled just wide. 7
Aymeric Laporte: Has been a rock at the back throughout the tournament – and so he was once again as Spain recorded a seventh clean sheet in eight games. 7
Pau Cubarsi: Once again provided a calm presence in defence as he has done all tournament. Only the second player on record (from 1966) to complete 100-plus passes in a World Cup final. 8
Pedro Porro: Followed up on his solid display in the semi-final to play a part in the move that produced the winning goal. 7
Fabian Ruiz: Worked hard in the engine room as Argentina struggled to impose their authority. 7
Rodri: Another controlled midfield performance from the captain as he helped his country to their first World Cup triumph since 2010. 7
Alex Baena: Put himself about and made a nuisance of himself. 7
Dani Olmo: Created chances and made a nuisance of himself on another glorious day for Spanish football after the Euros success of 2024 and the Nations League triumph of 2023. 7
Lamine Yamal: Ends the tournament with a World Cup winners medal at the age of 19. Will there be more to come? Had the first chance of the final after finding space inside the box. 7
Mikel Oyarzabal: Has been influential upfront for Spain but was kept quiet for large parts. Ends a glorious tournament as Spain’s leading scorer with five goals. 7
Substitutes
Pedri (62 mins): Came on to bring energy into the side. 7
Ferran Torres (62 mins): Injected pace into Spain’s play and was first to react when the ball fell to him in extra-time to seal the biggest prize of all for his country. 8
Nico Williams (75 mins): What an impact. Williams has had to remain patient at this tournament and has been limited to a string of substitute appearances. Spain looked dangerous each time he had the ball at his feet and played a huge role in the goal. 9
Mikel Merino (75 mins): Has proved to be an impact substitute at this tournament and again played his part on a glorious day for Spain. 6
Eric Garcia (99 mins): Worked hard and put himself about after coming on in extra-time. 6
Martin Zubimendi (99 mins): Did what he needed to as Spain wrote another glorious chapter in their football history. 6
Starting XI
Emiliano Martinez: Produced a fine save to keep out Lamine Yamal’s free-kick right at the end of normal time. 6
Nicolas Tagliafico: Helped frustrate Spain for large spells before Argentina’s 10-men were undone. 6
Lisandro Martinez: Booked for a foul from behind on Mikel Oyarzabal. Then replaced by Nicolas Otamendi before half-time after picking up an injury. 5
Cristian Romero: Helped ensure Mikel Oyarzabal – Spain’s top scorer at this World Cup – was quiet. Booked for dissent. 6
Gonzalo Montiel: Showed great reactions to save a goal after Dani Olmo’s low cross. 6
Nico Gonzalez: Replaced at half-time after Argentina failed to register an attempt in the first half. 5
Alexis Mac Allister: Fortunate to escape a caution after a late challenge on Dani Olmo. 5
Enzo Fernandez: Shocking challenge on Pau Cubarsi which resulted in a second yellow card and dismissal – Argentina’s first red card at a World Cup since 2006. 4
Rodrigo De Paul: Struggled to influence the game and was replaced midway through the second half. 5
Julian Alvarez: Did not impose his authority on a day that belonged to Spain. 5
Lionel Messi: If this was his final appearance on the World Cup stage, what a sad end for the legend. Struggled to seriously test the Spain defence and finished the tournament on eight goals – two behind France’s Kylian Mbapppe. 6
Substitutes
Nicolas Otamendi (41 mins): Came on towards the end of the first half for Lisandro Martinez and tried to make things happen before Argentina were undone by Enzo Fernandez’s red card. 5
Leandro Paredes (46 mins): He had only been on the pitch a few minutes when he was booked for shoving Rodri – and then was involved in ugly scenes at full time. 3
Nahuel Molina (50 mins): Disappointing end to his World Cup as Argentina came unstuck in the final. 5
Facundo Medina (70 mins): Unable to help his country as the best team won. 4
Giovanni Simeone (70 mins): Unable to make an impact as the Copa America winners struggled and Simeone could not get into get into the game. 4
Marcos Senesi (102 mins): Could not impact the game as Argentina conceded for the sixth straight game and lost the final. 4
Number: 19 Lamine YamalAverage rating 7.94
7.94Number: 19 Lamine YamalAverage Rating: 7.94Number: 16 RodriAverage Rating: 7.77Number: 17 Nico WilliamsAverage Rating: 7.72Number: 7 Ferran TorresAverage Rating: 7.68Number: 24 Marc CucurellaAverage Rating: 7.56Number: 10 Dani OlmoAverage Rating: 7.52Number: 12 Pedro PorroAverage Rating: 7.44Number: 6 Mikel MerinoAverage Rating: 7.31Number: 20 PedriAverage Rating: 7.26Number: 22 Pau CubarsíAverage Rating: 7.18Number: 18 Martín ZubimendiAverage Rating: 7.16Number: 21 Mikel OyarzabalAverage Rating: 7.13Number: 4 Eric GarcíaAverage Rating: 7.07Number: 14 Aymeric LaporteAverage Rating: 7.06Number: 8 Fabián RuizAverage Rating: 7.04Number: 23 Unai SimónAverage Rating: 7.04Number: 15 Álex BaenaAverage Rating: 6.98Back to team tabsNumber: 23 E. MartínezAverage Rating: 4.81Number: 3 N. TagliaficoAverage Rating: 3.48Number: 9 J. AlvarezAverage Rating: 3.41Number: 13 C. RomeroAverage Rating: 3.40Number: 10 L. MessiAverage Rating: 3.40Number: 20 A. Mac AllisterAverage Rating: 3.32Number: 4 G. MontielAverage Rating: 3.31Number: 15 N. GonzálezAverage Rating: 3.27Number: 7 R. De PaulAverage Rating: 3.26Number: 6 Lisandro MartínezAverage Rating: 3.24Number: 26 N. MolinaAverage Rating: 3.13Number: 19 N. OtamendiAverage Rating: 3.09Number: 25 F. MedinaAverage Rating: 2.91Number: 24 E. FernándezAverage Rating: 2.78Number: 17 G. SimeoneAverage Rating: 2.77Number: 2 M. SenesiAverage Rating: 2.75Number: 5 L. ParedesAverage Rating: 2.61Back to team tabs
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
