Argentina's anger after the 2026 World Cup final

The Argentine national team faced tense moments after their loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Roberto “Ratón” Ayala, assistant to Lionel Scaloni, was involved in an incident with Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo, slapping him on the field. A video captured by a fan shows the former Valencia player arguing with Olmo before hitting him. A teammate quickly separated them, preventing further escalation.

What happened with Leandro Paredes?

Boca Juniors midfielder Leandro Paredes also got into a fight. After the final whistle, Paredes clashed with Eric García, grabbing him by the neck and attempting to strike him. Later, the Argentine confronted Gavi, knocking him to the ground. Referee Slavko Vinčić expelled him from the field, though the match had already ended.

Scaloni and others intervene

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni had to step in to calm tensions. Alongside Walter Samuel and other staff members, he managed to separate the players. Thiago Almada also tried to restrain Paredes. Meanwhile, Nicolás Otamendi had a heated exchange with Rodri, refusing to shake his hand and accusing him of “crying all week.”

The match and Scaloni's statements

Argentina reached the final after a five-game winning streak, including a 2-1 semifinal victory over England (2026-07-15). Despite the loss, Scaloni praised the team’s effort: “We have to give it huge value. It’s tough. We won’t forget everything we did to get here.”