Argentina's Martinez plays cool in net, even as teammates turn reckless in historic World Cup final

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Emiliano Martinez was cool as could be in goal, even as impatience and frustration brewed among his fiery Argentine teammates. Playing with a broken finger, he broke a World Cup final record for saves.

The star goalkeeper just couldn't hold up after Argentina's unyielding, ruthless aggression steered La Albiceleste into a red card and left them a man down in extra time.

Spain’s Ferran Torres smashed the ball past Martínez for his first goal of the World Cup to make it 1-0 in the 106th minute, enough on Sunday to send the team past Lionel Messi and Argentina for its first title since 2010.

Martinez, the World Cup-winning keeper from 2022, again used his imposing 6-foot-5 frame to stand tall with a record 11 saves and kept Argentina's bid for a second straight World Cup title alive.

His teammates spent much of the match chasing Spain around the pitch. And while Argentina's pugnacious style served it well rallying from deficits throughout this tournament, it backfired Sunday.

The first sign of trouble came when Leandro Paredes nearly earned two yellow cards on one play. Officials missed him shoving Rodri in the back in the 52nd minute, but he was carded for pushing down Dani Olmo during the testy confrontation that followed.

Enzo Fernández's frustration proved more costly. He got a first yellow card for dissent arguing a possible foul call in the 82nd minute. He was sent off with another yellow 11 minutes later for a reckless play that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air.

With even less help in front of him, Martínez finally failed to fend off the onslaught.

Spain kept attacking, kept shooting and broke through with a goal that sparked a wild celebration in the stands with fans dancing and hugging and waving the flag ahead of the eventual coronation.

Things were briefly chippy between the teams post-match, and Paredes was at the center, at various points shoving Eric García and Gavi. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was held back by a Spain player while appearing to shout at someone, and Nicolas Otamendi exchanged words with several Spanish players, including Rodri.

Nicknamed “Dibu" because of his resemblance to an Argentine animated character, Martinez became a national hero for his stunning save to deny Randal Kolo Muani a late goal in the final against France at Qatar 2022. Even with an injured hand, Martinez may have played better in this year's tournament.

“We should have put the game to bed much earlier. We had many chances," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. "But Dibu was nothing short of exceptional. It was thanks to Dibu’s saves, and this goes to show that winning is very difficult.”

Consider, his stop in the 92nd minute that could have shifted some momentum toward Argentina.

He made a two-handed save of La Roja's Nico Williams’ line drive in second-half stoppage time from near the top of the box that kept the game scoreless.

Fernández was sent off one minute later.

Martínez starred on Sunday much as he did in 2022.

After a series of corner kicks for Spain, Rodrigo De Paul got a header on net, only to be denied by Martínez in the 67th minute.

On his 10th save of the game, he denied Lamine Yamal on a free kick in extra time that left the teenager covering his mouth in astonishment that he missed.

Martinez broke a finger on his right hand in May during a Europe League game with Aston Villa. He said he delayed surgery so that he could be in net — surely a decision Argentina appreciated.

Martinez started every World Cup game and had two clean sheets in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria and a 2-0 win over Austria in group stage games.

While Messi received the bulk of the credit, Martinez carried Argentina all the way to Spain's 20th shot of the game and the brink of a second straight World Cup title.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Spain's Ferran Torres (7) scores their first goal past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) fails to save a shot by Spain's Ferran Torres (7) who scored their opening goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Spain's Mikel Merino (6) tries to score past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) as Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi (19), left, and Argentina's Facundo Medina (25), top left, react during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Spain's Ferran Torres (7) scores their first goal past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (23) during the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez makes a save against Spain during the second half of the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

LONDON (AP) — British prosecutors charged a 28-year-old man with murder Monday in the death of former politician and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe.

Joshua Kerry was charged after more than a week in custody on suspicion of murder and acts of terror. Police are continuing to investigate his motive, including a potential political or terrorist connection, prosecutors said.

The death of Widdecombe, 78, a former member of Parliament, shocked the British political world, where Widdecombe was a prominent voice for decades. She was a blunt-speaking character known for socially conservative views opposing abortion and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights.

Police said they believe Widdecombe was attacked July 8. She failed to appear that afternoon for a scheduled TV interview and was found dead the next day in her isolated rural home in a southwest England village.

Police did not disclose a cause of death, saying only that she had sustained “serious injuries” in what they called a targeted and brutal attack.

Kerry was arrested July 11 in South Yorkshire county in northern England, more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) from the village of Haytor on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, where Widdecombe was found dead Thursday.

Kerry remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

He was originally arrested on suspicion of murder, but after finding new evidence while he was custody, he was rearrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

Widdecombe was in the House of Commons from 1987 to 2010, serving in roles including prisons minister in Prime Minister John Major’s 1990s Conservative government.

She found fame after leaving Parliament as a contestant on the reality television shows “Strictly Come Dancing” and “Celebrity Big Brother.”

She later joined the Brexit Party, briefly serving as a member of the European Parliament before Britain left the European Union in 2020. Most recently, she joined the anti-immigration Reform UK party, often appearing in the media as a spokesperson.

The killing has renewed concerns for politicians about security, which was tightened in the past decade after the murders of two serving members of Parliament. Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was shot and stabbed in 2016 by a far-right extremist, and Conservative David Amess was stabbed in 2021 by an attacker inspired by the Islamic State group.

Police outside the house of former lawmaker Ann Widdecombe, in Haytor, England, Friday July 10, 2026, after she was found dead in her home on Thursday with serious injuries. (Matt Keeble/PA via AP)

FILE -Ann Widdecombe, Brexit Party member, is interviewed after Nigel Farage, Leader of Britain's Brexit Party, spoke on stage at the launch of their policies for the General Election campaign, in London, Nov. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)