Argentina fell to Spain in the World Cup final, with the decisive moment arriving just 15 minutes before a potential penalty shootout. Ferran Torres struck in extra time to secure Spain's second World Cup title.
Spain dominated the contest, limiting Argentina to few meaningful opportunities until the closing stages forced a late response. The European side controlled possession and tempo throughout the match.
A national sports broadcaster issued player ratings after the final, praising the squad's overall effort while criticizing several individuals. Four players received scores of 4 out of 10 or lower.
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, influential in the semi-final, was flagged for inaccurate passing that disrupted his own team's rhythm. Analysts noted he failed to disrupt Spain's attacking flow and offered little in forward play.
Lionel Messi drew a 5 rating, with reviewers stating he was absent for long stretches of the second half. The assessment described his tournament as lackluster following a quiet final performance.
Enzo Fernández received a 4 after a red card that left Argentina with ten men during a critical phase. Evaluators said he lost his central role, failed to recover possession, and mistimed a tackle that proved costly.
Giuliano Simeone was partly blamed for the winning goal, having lost Torres in the build-up and misplaced multiple passes. Reviewers cited a lack of technique and poor decision-making in his rating.
Defender Nahuel Molina received the lowest mark, with critics calling it one of the worst performances of the tournament. They pointed to a recurring weakness on the right flank and a defensive lapse on Spain's goal.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni expressed sadness mixed with pride after the defeat. He acknowledged Spain was the better side and thanked his players for competing throughout the campaign.
Scaloni emphasized the difficulty of reaching a World Cup final and urged the nation not to overlook the team's broader achievements. He said the squad played with full commitment despite falling short.
