Winners and losers of the 2026 World Cup: From Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe lighting up the tournament and Spain's watertight defence to Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar's sad farewells and Christian Pulisic missing his moment

The 2026 World Cup winners-and-losers recap centers on Spain’s title in New Jersey, with a 1-0 final victory over 10-man Argentina after Ferran Torres scored. The match unfolded as an attack-versus-defense contest, with Enzo Fernández receiving a second yellow in the final minute. The article also describes tense scenes after the whistle as Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes confronted multiple Spanish players on the pitch. Beyond the final, it frames key standout narratives across the tournament, including Erling Haaland’s Norway run and his seven goals across five outings, featuring a 2-1 win over Brazil. It also highlights Neymar’s final international matches for Brazil, citing his emotional comments after Norway eliminated Brazil in the round of 16 in New Jersey. The piece compares performances and departures without detailing every squad moment in the excerpt provided.