Spain claimed their second World Cup title on July 19, 2026, defeating Argentina 1-0 in New York. Following the tournament’s conclusion, FIFA released its final shortlist for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Hyundai Goal of the Tournament award, featuring strikes from the group stage through the semi-finals, with the overall winner to be decided following the final.
Spain’s Title Triumph in New York
The 2026 World Cup concluded on Sunday, July 19, with Spain defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the final held in New York. The decisive moment arrived in extra time when Barcelona star Ferran Torres scored the match’s only goal, assisted by a backwards header from Nico Williams. The victory marks the second time Spain has secured the World Cup title.
While the final result provided a definitive end to the tournament, the match was not without tension. According to reports, an altercation occurred after the final whistle, involving Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and Spain’s Eric Garcia. Despite the intensity of the final, the focus of fans has now shifted toward celebrating the tournament’s most spectacular individual performances.
FIFA’s Goal of the Tournament Shortlist
With the tournament concluded, FIFA has finalized the shortlist for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Hyundai Goal of the Tournament. The selection process was conducted in stages, with supporters voting after the group stage, Round of 32, Round of 16, and the combined quarter-finals and semi-finals. FIFA confirmed that Julián Álvarez’s extra-time strike in Argentina’s 3-1 quarter-final victory over Switzerland won the latest voting phase after receiving 37.2 per cent of fans’ votes.
The full list of nominees competing for the overall honour includes:
- Group Stage: Eldor Shomurodov (Uzbekistan vs Congo DR), Wilson Isidor (Haiti), Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Lionel Messi (Argentina), and Vinícius Júnior (Brazil).
- Round of 32: Sidny Lopes Cabral (Cabo Verde vs Argentina), Lionel Messi (Argentina vs Cabo Verde), Kaishu Sano (Japan vs Brazil), Kylian Mbappé (France), and Julián Quiñones (Mexico).
- Round of 16: Erling Haaland (Norway vs Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina vs Egypt), and Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco vs Canada).
- Quarter-finals and semi-finals: Julián Álvarez (Argentina vs Switzerland), Kylian Mbappé (France vs Morocco), Andreas Schjelderup (Norway vs England), Jude Bellingham (England vs Norway), Pedro Porro (Spain vs France), and Enzo Fernández (Argentina vs England).
Defining Moments of the 2026 Campaign
The tournament produced several memorable strikes that defined the summer across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, was a massive hit, scoring seven times as Norway made it to the quarter-finals. His effort against Brazil in the Round of 16 was described as a laser-guided strike that flew through Danilo’s legs and fizzed past Alisson. Similarly, Kylian Mbappé’s goal against Morocco in the quarter-finals was highlighted for its technical difficulty, with observers noting the sidefooted strike contained no spin while traveling straight into the corner.
The tournament also served as a stage for breakout performances. Sidny Lopes Cabral, representing debutants Cape Verde, scored a sensational goal in the Round of 32. With Cape Verde trailing 2-1 in extra time, the 23-year-old cruised past Alexis Mac Allister and curled an effort past Emi Martinez to level the match. Meanwhile, Wilson Isidor of Haiti, playing in their first World Cup in 52 years, scored a “thunderbolt” against Morocco, and Eldor Shomurodov of Uzbekistan stunned DR Congo with an audacious chip that caught the goalkeeper in no-man’s land.
Lionel Messi, at age 39, also featured prominently, scoring eight times during the tournament. His strike against Cape Verde was noted for a “sublime” first touch following a pass from Lisandro Martinez. As the tournament concludes, these nominated goals remain under consideration for the overall Goal of the Tournament title.
