There were so many reasons to lose the will to live in a death-march of a World Cup final that Lionel Messi’s anti-climactic send-off could soon be forgotten.
The hostile takeover of the spectacle was complete with a 24-minute half-time show featuring Madonna and Justin Bieber and worse still, curated by Chris Martin. The pitch was terrible, the football worse and the kick-off delayed. The ending even more of a disgrace, Spain’s Eric Garcia grabbed by the neck and Gavi shoved onto the floor in a despicable new low from an Argentina side that never deserved to grace such an occasion.
While all around were losing their heads, the sound of a jovial Viva Espana echoing over the PA only further aggravated the tournament’s most ungracious losers. As Spain lifted the trophy they deliberately turned their backs.
In England’s self-inflicted semi-final defeat, Messi was at least able to kick free of the poisonous energy around him, eclipsing a tepid first half with two assists to put Argentina into a second successive final. When that final arrived, his teammates entangled him like seaweed until he was eventually drowned in their venom.
It got a bit heated after full time between players from Argentina and Spain pic.twitter.com/e2idrEBGP3
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 19, 2026The greatest footballer of all time was reduced to the petty, pathetic dark arts that risk becoming what his nation is remembered for at this World Cup. There has rarely been such an unbefitting final chapter to an international career.
Messi’s greatest contribution on the day was to try and convince Slovakian referee Slavko Vincic to send off Marc Cucurella for covering his mouth with his hand for less than a second. The new rule, stipulating players cannot hide their speech during a confrontation, has only had one victim at this World Cup, Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron, and was never in a sane world going to see another for Cucurella’s offence.
So absurd was the entire spectacle from start to finish, from Donald Trump’s helicopter arrival to the Muppets’ singsong, half of it felt like AI. It tainted everything it touched.
Argentina’s outrageous behaviour spoke only of desperation borne of an indisputable gulf in class. Spain had all of the ball and Argentina none of the class – nor a shot until the 117th minute. Enzo Fernandez was rightfully dismissed for two yellow cards, the first for dissent and the second for a late challenge upturning the 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi.
Not wholly out of character, but perhaps worth a shot given Vincic’s initial reluctance to book any Argentinian players – on his last ever game as a match official – as Alexis Mac Allister clattered into Dani Olmo and Nicolas Tagliafico body slammed Lamine Yamal. Leandro Paredes’ monumental head loss at full-time
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World Cup: Chris Martin’s half-time show was an atrocity for the ages Daniel Storey: Spain win World Cup final marred by Argentina’s ugly anti-footballIt is not only the moral high ground that belongs to Spain but also the trophy. Deservedly so, for a team who conceded once over the entire seven weeks. This is a young side who largely did not even require Pedri and who can dominate for years to come.
Messi, at the other end of the spectrum, is surely to bow out. At the age of 39 this was somehow one of Messi’s most remarkable tournaments yet and still this is how it ends, in tears and with 54 touches and no shots on target.
It will be remembered as one of the most embarrassing nights of his career.
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