{"id":1913,"date":"2026-07-20T09:30:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T15:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/?p=1913"},"modified":"2026-07-20T09:30:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T15:30:08","slug":"spain-win-world-cup-messi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tooniebet.ca\/ca\/sports-betting-and-news\/spain-win-world-cup-messi\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain and the wider soccer world win, Messi bids farewell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lionel Messi<\/strong> walked off the pitch Sunday evening following the final whistle of the 2026 World Cup exhausted; tears in his eyes, saluting the Argentina faithful. He looked like he\u2019d rather be anywhere except East Rutherford, New Jersey (which, to be fair, is like most people who find themselves in East Rutherford, New Jersey), the greatest player of all time had lost his final match in his country\u2019s kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t poetic, nor was it surprising. Losing isn\u2019t foreign to Messi, even he can\u2019t win every match he plays. He\u2019s lost some big ones over his storied 20-plus-year career, for both club and country. But he\u2019s won more than he\u2019s lost, including 13-straight at the World Cup heading into the final and 12 more at the Copa America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Argentina and Messi hadn\u2019t lost a knockout match a major tournament since 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain dominate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The oddsmakers had Spain as well-deserved favourites. A possession machine that oozes confidence, \u201cLa Roja\u201d played with a calm, cool and collected style all tournament, conceding just a single goal heading into the final. A number that would not change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the better part of a decade, Argentina basically didn\u2019t lose when it mattered most. Until they did Sunday, in emphatic fashion. The score looked much better for \u201cLa Albiceleste\u201d than the eye test. They were thoroughly dominated by Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE NUMBER<\/td>ESP<\/td>ARG<\/td><\/tr>
Possession<\/td>65%<\/td>35%<\/td><\/tr>
Expected goals<\/td>2.29<\/td>0.22<\/td><\/tr>
Total shots<\/td>20<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
Shots on target<\/td>12<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>
Touches in opp. box<\/td>32<\/td>8<\/td><\/tr>
Accurate passes<\/td>763 (89%)<\/td>357 (77%)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By the second half hydration break, Argentina hadn\u2019t recorded a shot attempt, something no other side had \u201cachieved\u201d in the 103 previous matches at the 2026 World Cup. That didn\u2019t change until Messi found one in the 117th<\/sup> minute. If not for Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Mart\u00ednez <\/strong>and his tournament record 11 saves, the match would have ended after 90 minutes and been effectively over much earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Argentines weren\u2019t chasing possession, they were playing physical. They spent much of the match trying to bully their opponents off or after the ball with shoulders and elbows. That included Enzo Fernandez<\/strong>, who was sent off during injury time for a reckless, charging tackle on Pau Cubars\u00ed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

ENZO SEES RED!

Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez has received a red card and is sent off for the rest of the match. pic.twitter.com\/uYqZB5xaR6<\/a><\/p>— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 19, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>