Following the final whistle at MetLife Stadium on 19/7, Spain's players flooded the pitch to celebrate their second world championship. As they began their victory celebration, several Argentinian players clashed with their opponents, prompting intervention from referee Slavko Vincic.

Molina threw a punch as Rodri ran past, escalating the confrontation between the two teams. Paredes then grabbed Eric Garcia by the neck and forcefully pushed the Spanish defender during a verbal exchange. Gavi intervened to protect his teammate and was pushed to the ground by Paredes. Referee Vincic subsequently issued a direct red card to the Argentinian midfielder.

Leandro Paredes pushes Gavi after Argentina's 0-1 loss to Spain in the World Cup 2026 final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York, USA, on 19/7. *Photo: AP*

Hamann expressed outrage, stating that Molina and Paredes deserved severe punishment. "I would ban both for one year, then let them decide if they want to return", the former Germany international told Sky Sport Austria. "Such behavior is unacceptable; it must be punished, and there should be no excessive leniency".

Hamann believes the Argentinian national team damaged its image due to the post-match incident. The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder suggested the South American squad "lost much of the goodwill they had built, largely thanks to Lionel Messi".

FIFA has opened an investigation into Argentina's violent conduct following their loss to Spain. However, Gavi argued that Argentinian players should not necessarily face suspensions.

"If you ask me, no, I don't think they need to be suspended", the Spanish midfielder said on 21/7. "I understand it's not a good image for children, but football also always has an element of contact and intensity. In my opinion, the most reasonable action is to disqualify them immediately during the match, and nothing more afterward. After all, it's still part of football".

Referee Slavko Vincic shows a red card to Enzo Fernandez. *Photo: AP*

In the World Cup 2026 final, Argentina also displayed poor sportsmanship with aggressive play. Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time, forcing Argentina to play with ten men for two extra periods. Paredes, who entered at the start of the second half, committed 4 fouls but only received one yellow card.

Markus Babbel, who earned 51 caps for Germany, believes Argentina previously impressed with their fighting spirit to overcome challenges and reach the final, but they have now lost that positive image.

"It would have been a scandal if Argentina had won that way", Babbel told German sports website Ran. "They often seemed on the verge of elimination but reached the final through sheer will and fighting ability. I truly respect that. However, in the final, they did not stand out for their technical quality, but for their excessive aggression and, especially, their unsportsmanlike conduct in not accepting defeat".

Babbel also dismissed the possibility of Messi winning the 2026 Golden Ball, despite praising the Argentinian superstar's World Cup performance. He stated that the best player award rightfully belonged to Rodri, given his consistent and excellent displays, particularly in the semifinal against France. For the Golden Ball, Babbel believes the award should go to a player who maintains peak form throughout the year, mentioning Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Vitinha as strong contenders.

Hong Duy

(according to Marca)