A 'humiliating' match that will remain in World Cup history... Messi's Argentina records zero shots in regular time for the first time in a final

*This content was translated by AI.

The "defending champion" Argentina national football team, which reached the final of the 2026 FIFA North American Cup, settled for runner-up status alongside a humiliating record.

On the 20th (Korean time), Argentina lost to Spain 0-1 in a tightly contested final that went into extra time at New Jersey Stadium in New York, USA.

While the result, including extra-time and the scoreline, may have appeared as a tense final befitting the occasion, examining the match content reveals it was a "humiliating" performance that will go down in both Argentine football history and World Cup history.

On this day, Argentina failed to register a single shot throughout both halves. By the end of regular time, the shot count stood at 0-15.

According to football statistics outlet Opta, Argentina is the first team in World Cup final history to record just one shot during regular time.

Although Spain dominated possession and Argentina repeatedly relied on a solid defense and pressing throughout the match, failing to create a single shooting opportunity during regular time was humiliating for the defending champion and FIFA-ranked No. 1 side.

The match included the variable of Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) being sent off, though his dismissal did not occur until stoppage time in the second half.

Facing numerical inferiority, Argentina struggled to find gaps in Spain's defense even during extra time. They only began attacking late after conceding the opening goal within the first minute of the second half of extra time, but Messi's shot in the 12th minute of extra time was Argentina's first of the day. It came 117 minutes after kickoff.

With an additional shot by Julian Simeone (Atletico Madrid) in stoppage time of extra time, Argentina recorded just two shots over 120 minutes and ultimately lost to Spain, failing to win the title. It was the most shabby moment for a defending champion handing over the trophy.

Meanwhile, Spain, which dominated Argentina on this day and claimed the top spot, reached the World Cup summit for the second time in their history, 16 years after their victory at the 2010 South Africa tournament.

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*This content was translated by AI.