The streets of Madrid were already packed as clocks approached midnight in Spain's capital, but it wasn't until Ferran Torres' winning goal in the 106th minute of Sunday's World Cup Final that fans had something to applaud.
Soon thereafter, referee Slavko Vinčić blew the game's final whistle to secure Spain's 1-0 win over Argentina, igniting a massive celebration at the Plaza de Colón and throughout the city of 3.4 million.
Adults were seen weeping tears of joy in wire photos as their fellow citizens lit road flares and blew into plastic horns. Some even performed Norway's Viking row, which had become a staple for that team throughout its tourney run.
Of course, much of the evening was spent nervously standing at public watch parties as Argentina and Spain remained deadlocked in a 0-0 tie.
There were big screen televisions erected across Spain for Sunday's final, as around 20,000 people were expected at Plaza de Colón and another 15,000 fans at the Madrid Rio park in the center of town.
