India, July 20 -- Spain did not merely defeat Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. They dismantled the conditions Lionel Messi required to influence it.

Ferran Torres eventually supplied the decisive blow in the 106th minute, scoring the only goal of a final Spain controlled far more emphatically than the 1-0 scoreline suggested. Spain produced the first 20 attempts of the match; Argentina did not register their first until the 117th minute. Only Emiliano Martinez's World Cup final-record 12 saves kept the defending champions alive for so long. Spain finished the tournament having conceded just once in eight matches - the fewest goals ever allowed by a World Cup-winning team.

At the centre of that control was Rodri. Shortly after...