Rabat – Spain’s celebrations after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup took an unexpected turn as tensions boiled over moments after the final whistle, with Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes receiving a red card following a post-match altercation.
La Roja secured a historic 1-0 victory over Argentina to lift their second World Cup title, and their first since the golden generation triumphed in South Africa in 2010. But celebrations were briefly interrupted after confrontations between players from both sides.
Television cameras captured Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni sprinting toward a group of his players as Spain celebrated at midfield. It soon became clear the Argentine manager was attempting to prevent the situation from escalating.
At the center of the incident was Paredes, who appeared to confront Spain defender Eric García before grabbing him by the neck in a moment that quickly spread across social media.
Barcelona midfielder Gavi stepped in to defend his teammate but was reportedly shoved to the ground during the exchange despite efforts from Argentina’s Thiago Almada to calm the situation.
Paredes had already endured a difficult evening after coming on at halftime. The midfielder received an early booking in the second half and was fortunate not to be dismissed after committing several more robust challenges before the end of regulation.
His frustration ultimately boiled over after the final whistle, with officials showing him a red card once the confrontation had been brought under control.
While emotions ran high among the defeated defending champions, Gavi quickly shifted his attention back to Spain’s celebrations, later posting on social media: “I’m still dreaming… We are WORLD CHAMPIONS!”
The incident also drew criticism from former England goalkeeper and BBC pundit Joe Hart, who contrasted Paredes’ reaction with Lionel Messi’s conduct after the match.
“We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose,” Hart said. “Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible.”
He added that Messi showed “class” by congratulating Spain’s players, while insisting the best team had deservedly won the tournament.
The confrontation came just days after Argentina had already faced criticism following their semifinal victory over England, when players displayed a politically charged banner referencing the Falkland Islands dispute, adding another layer of controversy to the Albiceleste’s World Cup campaign.
