India, July 20 -- For a brief moment, deep into extra time, it felt as though Argentina would conjure yet another late escape. They had done it throughout the knockout stages, scoring 10 of their 19 goals at this World Cup after the 80th minute. Lionel Messi, who had been kept unusually quiet for most of the final, finally came alive. Argentina surged behind their captain. Spain retreated. It felt like deja vu.

But this time, the comeback never came.

Argentina managed just two attempts in the closing stages, both after the 118th minute, and neither troubled the goalkeeper. Messi was at the heart of both moves, but La Albiceleste could not find the equaliser. When the final whistle sounded at MetLife Stadium in New York, Spain erupted in...