Argentina’s dream of ending the tournament as back to back world champions came to a heartbreaking end after a narrow defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final.
Lionel Scaloni’s men battled bravely and defended resolutely for long spells, but Spain’s relentless pressure eventually told in extra time.
Injuries to key defenders disrupted Argentina’s backline, while the midfield struggled to gain control against a dominant Spanish side. Here is how each Argentina player performed on the biggest stage in football.
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Argentina player ratings vs Spain
Emiliano Martinez – 7/10
Once again, Martinez proved why he remains one of the world’s finest goalkeepers. He produced an excellent early stop to deny Lamine Yamal after Lisandro Martinez’s intervention and later dealt comfortably with Ferran Torres’ header.
Although he looked shaky when spilling a long-range effort, the Aston Villa shot-stopper responded with crucial saves, including a superb stop from Yamal’s late free-kick.
In extra time he kept Argentina alive with two outstanding saves, one of which denied Nico Williams before Spain’s disallowed effort. There was little he could do when Torres finally found the winner.
Gonzalo Montiel – 6/10
Handed a starting role after impressing from the bench against England, Montiel enjoyed a relatively quiet opening period. Alex Baena rarely threatened his flank, allowing the right-back to stay disciplined defensively. His best contribution came in the second half when he reacted quickly to clear the danger and deny Marc Cucurella a clear sight of goal before making way.
Cristian Romero – 6/10
Romero marshalled the defence with authority during the first half despite Spain controlling possession. He combined well with Lisandro Martinez to keep Spain’s attackers at bay and rarely looked troubled. Unfortunately, his evening ended prematurely after picking up an injury, another cruel setback in what had otherwise been another impressive tournament from the Tottenham defender.
Lisandro Martinez – 6/10
The Manchester United defender suffered similar heartbreak after being forced off through injury before half-time. Before his exit, Martinez made an outstanding block that prevented Yamal from opening the scoring and defended aggressively throughout. His booking for bringing down Mikel Oyarzabal summed up his commitment, sacrificing himself for the team when necessary.
Nicolas Tagliafico – 5/10
Tagliafico endured a difficult evening against the electric Yamal. He struggled to cope with the teenager’s pace and was fortunate to avoid a booking after hauling him down during a dangerous counterattack. While he received support from teammates defensively, he offered very little going forward and found it difficult to influence proceedings.
Nico Gonzalez – 5/10
Rewarded with a start after an encouraging cameo against England, Gonzalez failed to justify his selection. The winger found little joy against Spain’s organised defence, struggled to retain possession and was withdrawn at the break as Argentina searched for more control in midfield.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6/10
Mac Allister was one of Argentina’s more composed midfielders despite operating under constant pressure. He was fortunate to avoid disciplinary action after an early challenge and a contentious handball, but he kept the ball moving well whenever Argentina managed to enjoy spells of possession. Unfortunately, Spain’s dominance limited his influence.
Enzo Fernandez – 3/10
After starring in the semi-final, Fernandez endured a night to forget. The Chelsea midfielder was anonymous for much of the contest as Spain completely overran Argentina’s midfield. His frustration eventually boiled over in stoppage time when he picked up a second yellow card following needless dissent and a reckless challenge, leaving his side to finish with ten men.
Rodrigo De Paul – 5/10
Usually the heartbeat of Argentina’s midfield, De Paul never managed to stamp his authority on the final. Spain’s relentless pressing restricted his ability to drive the team forward, and he spent most of the game chasing possession rather than dictating play.
Lionel Messi – 5/10
Spain executed their game plan to perfection against the Argentine captain. Messi struggled to find pockets of space and was rarely allowed to influence the game in dangerous areas. The veteran tried to inspire his teammates but found himself surrounded whenever he received possession. Even football’s greatest magician could not unlock Spain’s disciplined defensive structure.
Julian Alvarez – 5/10
Alvarez worked tirelessly up front but lacked service throughout the contest. With Argentina unable to establish themselves in midfield, the striker was isolated for long periods and rarely threatened Spain’s defence. His movement remained sharp, but clear opportunities never arrived.
Substitutes
Nicolas Otamendi – 6/10
Introduced after Argentina’s defensive injury problems, the experienced centre-back made several important clearances and organised the backline well. He battled bravely but could not prevent Spain’s decisive breakthrough.
Leandro Paredes – 4/10
Paredes entered at half-time hoping to add steel in midfield but immediately picked up a needless yellow card. He struggled to cope with Spain’s intensity and looked increasingly frustrated as the match wore on.
Giuliano Simeone – 5/10
The winger brought energy after coming on but failed to make a meaningful impact. His biggest chance arrived late in extra time, but he lacked composure and blasted over from close range.
Facundo Medina – 5/10
Thrown into a difficult situation following Romero’s injury, Medina defended courageously for long spells. However, like the rest of Argentina’s defence, he was eventually breached as Spain’s pressure finally paid off.
Nahuel Molina – 4/10
Molina found life difficult after entering the game. He lost track of Nico Williams during the move that led to Spain’s decisive goal, allowing the winger to head the ball into a dangerous area from which Ferran Torres settled the final. It was a costly defensive lapse on a painful night for Argentina.