Toni Kroos appeared to take a cheeky swipe at Argentina after Spain secured their second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over the 10-man side in Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
“Football won,” Kroos wrote in a two-word post on X after watching Spain lift the trophy for the first time since 2010.
Ferran Torres’ 106th-minute strike proved decisive as Luis de la Fuente’s side edged a dramatic final and added another World Cup crown to Spain’s collection.
Spain’s dominance appeared to support Kroos’ verdict, as Argentina failed to register a shot in the opening 90 minutes, becoming the first team in World Cup final history to do so. Their first attempt came in the 117th minute when Lionel Messi’s blocked volley finally tested Spain’s defence, while Giuliano Simeone came close to forcing a late equaliser in stoppage time of extra time.
Argentina’s frustration grew as the match slipped away. Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card, while ugly scenes followed the final whistle as Leandro Paredes clashed with Eric Garcia and Gavi during Spain’s celebrations. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had to intervene to pull his midfielder away.
The statistics also reflected Spain’s control, with Argentina managing just 34.9 per cent possession and committing 25 fouls compared to Spain’s 21.
The defeat marked Argentina’s fourth World Cup final loss, after previous runners-up finishes in 1930, 1990 and 2014, matching Germany’s record for the most final defeats.
