Letter XI: Epilogue (Part I): When the Final Whistle Blew
My dear Parth, Viyanka, and Veyd,
Well, my dear grandchildren, we have reached the end of the journey we began some weeks ago.
When I wrote my very first letter, the World Cup had only just begun. We did not know who would become champions. We did not know which players would become heroes, which matches would become classics, or which moments would find a permanent place in football history. We only knew that the world had gathered once again for its greatest sporting celebration.
Today, the champions have been crowned, the trophy has found its new home, and it is time for Dadu to keep the promise he made in the very beginning.
The Night the World Stopped
The Final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was played on 19 July 2026 between Spain and Argentina.
Argentina arrived carrying enormous expectations. They were the defending champions and had once again reached the final through brilliant football and immense resilience. Millions believed that Lionel Messi’s team would complete a glorious repeat triumph.
Spain, however, had travelled a magnificent road of their own. They had defeated Austria in the Round of 32, Portugal in the Round of 16, Belgium in the quarter-final, and France in the semi-final. By the time they reached the Final, they had already overcome some of the strongest teams in the world.
The match itself was tense, tactical, and beautifully contested. Argentina attacked with imagination. Spain defended with discipline and composure. The goalkeepers produced important saves, and for long stretches it seemed that a single moment would decide everything.
That moment arrived in extra time.
In the 103rd minute, Ferran Torres found the net and gave Spain the lead. Argentina fought desperately to equalise, but Spain held firm. When the referee blew the final whistle, Spain had won 1-0 and become World Champions for the second time in their history.
For Spanish supporters, it was a night of unforgettable joy. Players embraced one another, many in tears, while the famous FIFA World Cup Trophy was lifted beneath a shower of golden confetti. For Argentina, it was heartbreak—but also the pride of having reached another World Cup Final.
A World Cup That Made History
This tournament was historic long before the Final was played.
It was the first World Cup with 48 teams, an expansion from the traditional 32. As a result, 104 matches were played, making it the largest World Cup ever organised.
The tournament was also unique because it was hosted by three countries together—the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Stadiums across North America were filled with colour, music, and celebration, creating a truly continental festival of football.
More than 1,200 footballers took part, and billions of people watched the matches on television, computers, and mobile phones. For nearly forty days, football became the common language of the world.
New Ideas for a New Era
You may remember that in one of my earlier letters I told you about VAR—the Video Assistant Referee.
This World Cup showed how much technology has become part of modern football.
VAR was used throughout the tournament to help referees review important incidents such as goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. Semi-automated offside technology made difficult offside decisions faster and more accurate than ever before.
Another important feature was the hydration break. Because several matches were played in intense summer heat, referees were instructed to stop play briefly so that players could drink water and cool themselves. This was a wonderful reminder that, however important football may be, the health and safety of the players must always come first.
The Heroes of 2026
Every World Cup produces a few names that become inseparable from the tournament itself.
Rodri of Spain won the Golden Ball, awarded to the best player of the entire tournament. He controlled matches with extraordinary intelligence, calmness, and leadership, and many experts felt that his performances were the heartbeat of Spain’s triumph.
Kylian Mbappé of France won the Golden Boot with 10 goals. Once again, he demonstrated why he is considered one of the finest footballers of his generation. His speed, finishing, and ability to influence the biggest matches made him one of the tournament’s outstanding stars.
Unai Simón of Spain received the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the World Cup, while Pau Cubarsí, also of Spain, was named the Best Young Player, a remarkable achievement for such a young footballer.
The Fair Play Award went to the Netherlands, recognising sportsmanship, discipline, and respect for the spirit of the game.
The Rare Magic of the Hat-Trick
Do you remember our letter about records and wonderful achievements? I told you there that a hat-trick—scoring three goals in a single match—is one of football’s rarest treasures. Across the long history of the World Cup, hat-tricks have always been uncommon enough to become part of football folklore.
This tournament produced four of them. Lionel Messi delighted Argentina’s supporters with another exhibition of genius. Jonathan David thrilled the home fans in Canada with a memorable performance. Ousmane Dembélé reminded everyone why he remains one of France’s most dangerous forwards. And Bukayo Saka lit up England’s spectacular third-place victory with three brilliantly taken goals. Every one of these performances became a celebration not only of individual brilliance but also of the joy and unpredictability that make the World Cup so special.
Even many legendary footballers complete their entire World Cup careers without scoring a single hat-trick. To witness four of them in one tournament was something truly special.
One Goal the World Will Remember
Every World Cup produces one or two moments that people continue to talk about long after the champions have been crowned. For many football lovers, one such moment in this tournament came when Sidny Lopes Cabral of Cabo Verde scored a magnificent goal against Argentina in the 103rd minute of their Round of 32 encounter. It was a goal born of courage, imagination, and perfect execution. Newspapers across the world described it as one of the finest goals of the tournament, and countless young footballers will no doubt try to recreate it for years to come. It was a reminder that while trophies are won by teams, unforgettable moments often belong to individuals willing to attempt the extraordinary.
The Record Books Were Rewritten
Several other remarkable records were created during these forty days.
Spain became only the second nation ever to win the World Cup twice after first winning it in 2010. Mbappé became the first player since Pelé to score at least 10 goals in a single World Cup. Rodri joined a very small group of midfielders to win the Golden Ball while also helping his team lift the trophy.
The tournament also produced extraordinary drama.
One of the biggest surprises came when Norway eliminated Brazil in the Round of 16, reminding everyone that reputation alone can never guarantee victory. Another unforgettable moment came when Paraguay knocked out Germany in a penalty shoot-out, proving once again that football always leaves room for the unexpected.
And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all.
In football, giants can fall, outsiders can rise, and history can change in a single evening.
The World Cup has now crowned its champions, but our journey together is not quite over. In my final letter, I should like to sit quietly with you once again and look back on everything we have witnessed over these wonderful weeks. Beyond the goals, the trophies, and the records lie some simple lessons about courage, perseverance, fairness, friendship, and the joy of striving to become the very best that we can be. That, perhaps, is the greatest gift this beautiful game has to offer.
With lots of love,
Dadu
scribo ad LX 