Nico Williams reveals how Nahuel Molina accidentally helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup

Nico Williams has revealed how an unexpected push from Argentina defender Nahuel Molina helped him provide the decisive assist for Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner in Spain’s 1-0 victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Speaking in an interview with Fútbol Emotion, the Athletic Bilbao winger explained that he initially believed he would not reach the ball before Molina’s intervention helped him get into position to keep the attack alive.

“I don’t think people have realized it, but if he hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t have made it. Not in a million years. The ball was falling and he pushed me with both arms,” Williams said.

The 24-year-old described how his thinking changed in a split second as he attempted to reach Pedro Porro’s delivery into the Argentine penalty area.

“When the ball was coming, I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but when he pushed me, I thought, ‘Damn, now I’m going to make it.’”

After reaching the ball, Williams realised he did not have enough time to turn and shoot. Instead, he improvised by directing the ball towards Torres, who was perfectly positioned to finish.

“I didn’t have time to shoot, so I thought about leaving it there. I left it, Ferran came and put it in.”

Torres scored in the 106th minute, securing Spain’s second World Cup title and delivering one of the defining moments in the country’s football history.

Williams had experienced disappointment earlier in extra time when a goal of his own was ruled out following a foul in the build-up. However, the winger declined to revisit the controversy surrounding that decision.

“My goal in the final? We’re not going to get into any controversies.”

His latest recollections offer a fascinating insight into the split-second decisions behind Spain’s historic triumph, with an unexpected defensive intervention ultimately helping create the winning goal.