Following more than a month of madness, the FIFA World Cup ended with a victory for Spain and its 19-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal.
Here’s how the Spaniards reacted. And savored the victory. And the party continues in Spain.
How it happened
A scoreless match through 90 minutes on Sunday, it took extra time to determine the winner, despite the dominance Spain showed throughout. The European country tallied 12 shots on goal while Argentina couldn’t muster a single one. Finally, Spain broke through in the 106th minute as Ferran Torres found the back of the net with an assist off the head of Nico Williams.
Kicking the corner flag in excitement, Torres was quickly mobbed by his teammates after the match’s lone goal. It was an opportunity Torres took without hesitation.
“I didn’t think too much,” Torres said afterward. “I just saw the ball coming to me, and I just shoot with the power of all the Spanish people.”
Spanish legends from Spain’s last World Cup, in 2010, were ecstatic after Torres’ third World Cup goal.
The time may have been creeping up to midnight in Madrid, but it did not dampen any celebrations.
At Times Square, Argentine fans began the match with confidence before La Roja fans took over.
Here’s a sky view of Madrid’s celebration.
While on the pitch, Yamal celebrated by chomping on some BBQ chicken pizza while wearing some shades.
Ahead of the team’s victory, more than 40 pizzas were ordered for delivery after Sunday’s match, per The New York Times. Of the $1,200 worth of pies from a West Orange, New Jersey, restaurant, the team received 15 plain, 15 Margheritas, 10 buffalo chickens and an unknown amount of pepperoni.
Trump’s photobomb
Handing out medals at the trophy ceremony was President Donald Trump alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
As the team was about celebrate, Infantino rushed over to pull Trump out of the picture, but he refused to budge until he got his picture with Spain’s team as the confetti went off. Good thing for photo editing, at least in this Australian broadcaster’s opinion.
“They’re gonna edit him out of that,” he said.
Spain’s national team arrives home
Fans secured their spot near Cibeles Square late Monday morning to secure a spot in the blazing sun to welcome the the champions back home as they brought the World Cup trophy back home.
Winning is something the Spaniards may be getting used to: Having won the women’s World Cup in 2023, Spain is the first country to hold both simultaneously.
All three host country leaders, Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, congratulated the team, per The Associated Press.
The team will later parade through Madrid to celebrate.