Argentina's Title Defense Ends: Defending Champions Fall to Spain in Final

Argentina's reign as world champions is over. The defending champions lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in Sunday's final, missing out on the chance to become only the second team ever to win back-to-back World Cups, after Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962.

It was a tough way to go out. Argentina held firm for most of the game and kept Spain to just one shot on target through 90 minutes, but a Ferran Torres strike in the 106th minute proved decisive. Things got worse late on when Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Argentina to see out the rest of the game a man short.

The run to the final was anything but smooth. Argentina needed extra time twice in the knockouts, first to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32, then again to see off Switzerland 3-1 in the quarter-final. They also came from behind late to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16 and England 2-1 in the semi-final, showing the same fighting spirit that carried them to the title four years ago.

Much of that fight came from Lionel Messi, who finished the tournament with 8 goals, second only to France's Kylian Mbappe on 10. Messi was involved in goals right through the campaign, from a hat-trick in the group stage against Algeria to the late strikes that turned games around against Egypt and Cape Verde.

For a squad that has now won a World Cup, a Copa America, and reached back-to-back finals under coach Lionel Scaloni, this loss ends one era even as questions begin about what comes next for a team that has been the benchmark in world football for the best part of a decade.