Leandro Paredes sparked international outrage after being sent off for grabbing Eric Garcia by the neck following Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. The historic encounter ended in chaos as Spain, reduced to ten players for extra time, won thanks to a dramatic 105th-minute strike from Ferran Torres.
Argentina’s attack was stifled from the start, failing to register a single shot in regulation time and struggling to find any rhythm against a dominant Spanish side. As the final whistle confirmed Spain’s victory, tempers boiled over on the pitch. Paredes, clearly enraged by the defeat, grabbed García by the neck in a shocking act of aggression, sparking a widespread scuffle with several Argentine players.
Paredes’ red card made him the second Argentine to be sent off on the night, following Enzo Fernández’s careless challenge on Pau Quebecois early in the match. These dismissals brought Argentina’s number of World Cup finals red cards to a record four, surpassing their previous figure, which included two being sent off in the 1990 final.
The ugly scenes drew sharp condemnation from pundits and former professionals. Joe Hart, serving as a BBC analyst, minced no words: “Disgusting. There was one player in that team who had some class and that’s Lionel Messi, who went around and shook hands with all the Spanish players.” According to reports, Paredes’ anger was momentarily restrained by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, but the midfielder broke free and threw another Spanish player to the ground, leading to post-match chaos.
Commentators stressed the seriousness of the incident, with ITV pundits and Ian Wright highlighting Argentina’s history of aggressive play and disciplinary lapses. However, the violence displayed by Paredes and his comrades was widely described as unprecedented.
The Spanish victory, achieved under heavy pressure and numerical disadvantage, was soon overshadowed by the dishonorable conduct of their opponents. While Lionel Messi attempted to show sportsmanship in the defeat, most of the Argentina team were embroiled in scenes that have already caused infamy at the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup final will be remembered not only for Spain’s resilience and Torres’ decisive goal, but also for the chaotic and “disgusting” behavior that spoiled the closing moments of football’s greatest stage.
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