Queen Letizia of Spain lifts the trophy on the podium in celebration after Spain won the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup final football match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20, 2023.
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is not coming home to England after Spain defeated them 1-0 in the tournament's final game Sunday (Aug. 20).
In attendance to the Roja's very first Women's World Cup win was Queen Letizia, the wife of Spanish monarch King Felipe VI.
The team's male counterparts, Los Rojos, won their own first World Cup in 2010.
On the other hand, both King Charles III and his son, Prince William, shared England's heartbreak after the Lionesses lost in the final game.
"While I know how sore today's result must be, let none of you feel defeated," the king wrote, "for to have reached the finals at all is an immense tribute to your skill, determination and team spirit."
As a gesture of sportsmanship, the Spaniards formed a guard of honor as the Lionesses exited.
Aside from the action, the game was also highlighted by a man who ran to the pitch in the 24th minute to protest the war Russia was waging with Ukraine, comparing Vladimir Putin with Adolf Hitler.
Winning Goal-scorer's Message: "Merchi"
The winning goal of the Women's World Cup was scored by Spanish star player Olga Carmona.
Sports fans were intrigued by the message handwritten on the shirt she wore underneath her jersey. Upon scoring the goal, Carmona lifted her jersey to reveal the message "Merchi" inscribed on her undershirt.
Some speculated it was the Spanish term for buying something, while others say it was the Catalan word for "Thank you." Others still speculated it was a tribute to her old school, Colegio Mercedes.
However, Carmona confirmed "Merchi" was referring to her best friend's mother, who recently passed away.
Read Also: HNGN's Full Coverage of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Spain's players form a guard of honor and applaud England's players as they go to receive their runners up medals after the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup final football match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20, 2023.
Top Awardees
Aside from team glory, individual players were named for the best performances in the whole tournament.
The Golden Glove, awarded to the best goalkeeper in the match, was awarded to England's Mary Earps, 30, for denying three goals over seven matches, one of which was a penalty kick in the 70th minute of the final game itself.
The Golden Boot was awarded to 23-year-old Hinata Miyazawa of Japan after she scored five goals in five matches. She was the second Japanese player to earn the Golden Boot after Homare Sawa in 2011.
Spain's 19-year-old sensation Aitana Bonmatí, herself an accomplished athlete in lower levels of association football, such as Liga F and the Champions League, is awarded the Golden Ball for her stellar World Cup performance.
Sweden Beats Australia in Battle for Bronze 2-0
Meanwhile, Sweden made one final upset as they defeated co-host Australia 2-0 in the match for third place Saturday (August 19). It was the Blågults that made the greatest upset in the tournament after they defeated Team USA in the Round of 16 knockout phase.
Al Jazeera reported that this year's World Cup is the third time Sweden won third place in the tournament.
As for the Matildas, while relegated to top non-podium finishers, their performance in this year's World Cup was one for the history books as far as Australia was concerned.
According to Australian broadcaster ABC's sports journalist Samantha Lewis, the Australian people have treated their team, composed of relatively young and promising players, as if they were heroines deserving every ounce of accolade, and it is up to Australians to pay it forward.
"They came away having sparked the imagination of not just a generation, but generations," she wrote.
Related Article: FIFA: England Plays Spain in Women's World Cup Final; Australia, Sweden Battle for 3rd
