Overview
- Ferran Torres came on for Mikel Oyarzabal and in the 106th minute redirected a Nico Williams play at MetLife Stadium to beat goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez and put Spain ahead.
- Torres had lost his starting place earlier in the tournament and was used mainly as a substitute, a role Luis de la Fuente kept trusting until the final.
- After the match Torres said the goal 'has been of 47 million people,' acknowledged he had been 'very criticized' during the World Cup, and credited God for giving him strength.
- The goal sparked jubilant celebrations among Spanish fans at the stadium and drew repeated comparisons in the press to Andrés Iniesta’s 2010 final winner as a defining national moment.
- Torres arrives at this moment after a strong season with Barcelona and past personal and physical setbacks, and his goal is likely to reshape public view of his career while one outlet’s report that Rodri received the trophy from President Donald Trump remains unconfirmed.