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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina should have been remembered for Ferran Torres's lone goal in the 106th minute, giving La Roja its second star at MetLife Stadium in New York. But the images looping since Sunday night show something else entirely: a brawl triggered by Leandro Paredes, punches exchanged, and a Gavi dragged to the ground by the Argentine midfielder. In the midst of the chaos, Lamine Yamal found the only possible response: humor.
A match ending that spirals out of control
After 90 minutes of intense tactical lockdown — Lionel Messi's Argentina having chosen the most absolute wait-and-see approach — Spain turned the match around in extra time.
The script was written for a tense final. After 90 minutes of intense tactical lockdown — Lionel Messi's Argentina having chosen the most absolute wait-and-see approach — Spain turned the match around in extra time. Ferran Torres, brought on in the 92nd minute, beat Emiliano Martinez with a cross-shot in the 106th. La Roja had its Grail.
At the final whistle, as the Spaniards exploded with joy, Leandro Paredes lost all control. The AS Roma midfielder first landed several blows on Eric Garcia, FC Barcelona defender, before violently targeting Gavi. The images, captured by FIFA cameras, show a Paredes out of his mind, tackling the Andalusian midfielder and then dragging him to the ground by his shirt before being restrained by his own teammates. Referee Clément Turpin initially brandished a red card at the Argentine. But according to L'Équipe and So Foot, that card was ultimately not recorded in the official report — an administrative oddity adding to the confusion of an already chaotic scene. Enzo Fernandez was also involved in the scuffles, contributing to a match ending that even the Argentine press called shameful.
"I'd pay to see that"
Asked Monday evening on the sidelines of the Madrid celebrations, where over a million supporters had flooded the capital's streets, Lamine Yamal did not mince words. The 19-year-old prodigy, barely off the imperial bus cruising along the Paseo de la Castellana, answered journalists with a sense of timing bordering on comedic genius. "I hope they organize a boxing match between Gavi and Paredes. Honestly, I'd pay to see that," said the FC Barcelona winger, smiling.
Fabian Ruiz, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, chimed in similarly: "Gavi is small but he has heart, he'd last a few rounds." A way for the world champions to defuse tension through mockery, while showing solidarity with a teammate attacked for no reason. Gavi was just returning from a season marred by injuries. His late call-up to the World Cup, made official in May, had been seen as a personal victory. Seeing him attacked by an opponent, who was also his teammate at FC Barcelona, deeply shocked the Spanish dressing room.
FIFA investigation and sanctions to come
The governing body did not delay. As early as Monday, FIFA announced the opening of a disciplinary investigation against the Argentine Federation, under Article 36 of its Code. The Disciplinary Commission is analyzing video footage. Leandro Paredes faces a suspension of between four and ten international matches, according to several sources close to the matter, a sanction that would keep him off the pitch for the entirety of the South American qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup.
Beyond the individual sanction, the image of the Albiceleste emerges tarnished. Lionel Messi, captain and living legend at 39, experienced a bitter twilight to his international career. Silent on the incidents, he could not hide his tears when receiving the silver medal. Spanish football, for its part, savors the moment. Between Yamal's joke and the massive celebrations in Madrid, La Roja has already turned the page on a final that threatened to leave only a bitter taste. It remains to be seen whether this imaginary boxing match will stay a dressing-room quip or become one of the enduring memes of this North American World Cup. If a promoter ever decided to make it happen, Yamal would already have reserved his front-row seat.
