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Barcelona striker Ferran Torres etched his name into Spanish football history this evening, becoming only the second Spaniard to score in a World Cup final as La Roja were crowned world champions.
Introduced just after the hour mark, Torres transformed Spain's attack alongside Nico Williams. The pair repeatedly stretched Argentina's resolute defence, with their combination producing the decisive goal that sealed Spain's place at the summit of world football.
Spain controlled the contest for long periods, denying Lionel Messi and his teammates the opportunity to build sustained attacks or establish any rhythm in the final third. Their high press and disciplined shape kept Argentina at arm's length, with the South Americans only beginning to threaten in the closing stages of extra time, when they finally managed to string together sustained attacks and find a goal.
After building sustained pressure in the first half of extra time, even seeing one goal ruled out for a foul, Spain finally found the breakthrough. Pedro Porro's deep cross caused panic in the Argentina penalty area, with Nico Williams rising highest to head the ball back across goal. Ferran Torres peeled away from Giuliano Simeone before showing remarkable composure to fire past Emiliano Martínez and a desperate line of diving defenders.
It was the goal that changed everything. Torres had written his name into World Cup history, while several of his Barcelona teammates fulfilled the ultimate dream of becoming world champions.
Barcelona history
Barcelona had eight players in Spain's World Cup squad, matching the eight representatives who lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010. Coincidence? Probably not. It's just another reminder that La Masia doesn't just produce footballers, it produces winners.
Six of those Barcelona players featured in the final, and they will now return to Catalonia as world champions with an even greater appetite for silverware.
Before this final, the most famous goal in extra time was scored by Spanish and Barcelona legend, Andrés Iniesta, who netted the winning goal for La Roja against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final in the 116th minute.
By scoring in the 106th minute, Ferran Torres arrived ten minutes before Iniesta's goal, marking two Barcelona players that have helped deliver the World cup trophy for the nation.
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This article was originally published on everythingbarca.com as Ferran Torres is a history maker for Spain as they become World Champions .
