EAST RUTHERFORD (AFP) — Ferran Torres scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Spain defeated reigning champion Argentina, 1-0, to win the World Cup on Sunday and shatter Lionel Messi’s dreams of a triumphant farewell to football’s greatest stage.

Barcelona striker Torres lashed home a thumping finish in the 106th minute to reward a dominant display by Spain against an Argentina team who failed to register a single shot on target in 120 minutes.

A star-studded crowd of 80,663 that included United States President Donald Trump packed East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to see if Argentina captain Messi could crown his glittering career with a second World Cup victory.

But the 39-year-old maestro — almost certainly playing in his final World Cup game — was reduced to irrelevance as Spain took control early on against an Argentina team who committed cynical fouls throughout.

The South Americans’ skulduggery ended with midfielder Enzo Fernandez being sent off after a brutal challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi in stoppage time.

For long periods though it looked as if Argentina may somehow hold on for a penalty shoot-out as Spain struggled to make the breakthrough.

But after Nico Williams had a goal controversially disallowed in extra-time, Spain struck.

A lofted cross to the back post by Pedro Porro found Williams who nodded into the path of Torres to crash home the goal that clinched Spain’s second World Cup title after their maiden 2010 triumph.

“Ultimately, the goal belongs to 47 million people — not just me or the 26 players,” goal hero Torres said, referring to Spain’s approximate population.

“At the end of the day, all finals are tough; when you’re up against Messi, there’s a certain nervousness, but we always believed in our football and in ourselves.”

There were ugly scenes after the final whistle as Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes triggered a melee by grabbing Spain defender Eric Garcia around the throat in a skirmish that saw Spanish substitute Gavi thrown to the floor.

Messi, meanwhile, was seen with tears streaming down his face after receiving his runners-up medal in a ceremony headed by Trump — who was subjected to deafening boos and catcalls as he walked onto the pitch alongside International Football Federation president Gianni Infantino.

Trump and Infantino later presented the World Cup trophy to Spain captain Rodri, the midfield general who had orchestrated La Roja’s superb win.

“We have won everything, and that is wonderful,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said of his team.

“They are a generation of footballers who are a source of pride for Spain.”

Before Sunday’s final, many pundits had predicted a technically inferior Argentina would seek to disrupt Spain’s smooth game with cynicism.