Spain win FIFA World Cup 2026: Banderas leads celebrity praise after 1-0 win
Synopsis
Spain are world champions again — and Antonio Banderas made sure everyone knew it. Substitute Ferran Torres broke a goalless deadlock in the 106th minute to down defending champions Argentina 1-0 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, ending a 16-year wait for La Roja. Banderas’s X post captured the national mood perfectly: ‘A total blast.’
Key Takeaways
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 on 20 July .
Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute , assisted by Nico Williams .
It is Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title, their first since South Africa 2010 .
Actor Antonio Banderas congratulated the team on X , calling it ‘a total blast.’ The final was played at the New York New Jersey Stadium , ending goalless after 90 minutes .
Spanish actor Antonio Banderas joined the wave of national celebration on 20 July after Spain claimed the FIFA World Cup 2026 title, defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The Hollywood star took to X to express his pride in La Roja's triumph, marking Spain's first World Cup victory since 2010.
Banderas Reacts on X
Banderas posted his congratulations on X, writing: “Great match from our national football team, great tournament, great victory. Proud of them, for what they’ve achieved and for how they’ve done it. With the spirit of sportsmanship first and foremost. A total blast. @SEFutbol World Champions again.” The post captured the euphoria felt across Spain as the national side reclaimed football’s biggest prize after a 16-year wait.
How Spain Sealed the Title
After a tense and goalless 90 minutes, substitute forward Ferran Torres proved to be Spain’s match-winner, breaking the deadlock in the 106th minute. Torres latched onto a headed knockdown from Nico Williams before driving a powerful left-footed strike beyond Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to seal the victory. The win ends Argentina’s reign as world champions and hands Spain its second FIFA World Cup title — their first since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Why This Win Resonates Beyond Football
Spain’s triumph has ignited celebrations not just in Madrid and Barcelona but among Spanish diaspora and cultural figures worldwide. Banderas, one of Spain’s most globally recognised faces, amplified that sentiment with his post. Notably, Torres’s match-winning contribution came off the bench, underlining the squad depth that manager has built throughout the tournament. This is also the first World Cup final to be decided in extra time since 2010, adding to the symmetry of Spain’s two titles.
Antonio Banderas: A Brief Profile
Born in Malaga, Banderas began his career in theatre before director Pedro Almodovar cast him in the 1982 screwball comedy Labyrinth of Passion. He went on to appear in acclaimed films including Matador, Law of Desire, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, The Skin I Live In, and Pain and Glory. He is next set to appear in Above & Below, a horror action thriller directed by Jesse V. Johnson, also starring Laura Marano, Christina Ochoa, Timothy V. Murphy, Louis Mandylor, and Jess Liaudin.
With the World Cup now over, Spain will look to build on this momentum heading into the next cycle of international football.
Point of View
Not star power alone, wins World Cups. Argentina’s defeat also raises questions about the sustainability of post-Messi-era dominance. And Banderas’s viral post, while celebratory, reflects how global Spanish identity — built partly through cinema and partly through sport — converges at moments like this. Mainstream coverage will focus on the goal; the deeper story is what this win means for Spanish soft power.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium on 20 July. It is Spain’s second World Cup title and their first since 2010.
Who scored the winning goal in the 2026 World Cup final?
Substitute forward Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, latching onto a headed knockdown from Nico Williams before beating Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with a left-footed strike.
What did Antonio Banderas say about Spain’s World Cup win?
Antonio Banderas posted on X congratulating the Spanish national team, writing: ‘Great match from our national football team, great tournament, great victory. Proud of them, for what they’ve achieved and for how they’ve done it. With the spirit of sportsmanship first and foremost. A total blast.’
When did Spain last win the FIFA World Cup before 2026?
Spain previously won the FIFA World Cup in 2010, when they beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the final in South Africa. The 2026 title is their second overall.
What is Antonio Banderas’s next film?
Antonio Banderas is set to appear in Above & Below, a horror action thriller directed by Jesse V. Johnson, alongside Laura Marano, Christina Ochoa, Timothy V. Murphy, Louis Mandylor, and Jess Liaudin.
