‘Shame on Argentina’: Social media erupts as chaos erupts after World Cup final; An embarrassing history haunts Messi’s team | Today’s news

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. However, the post-match clash between Paredes and Spaniards Eric Garcia and Gabi was the talk of social media. The Argentinian defender received a red card for the scuffle.

“Argentina should hang their heads in shame. Insufferable in victory over England and pathetic in defeat against Spain. Billions are watching and you decided to start a fight and shame your nation. Do better,” British journalist Lewis Mackenzie wrote about the post-match clash.

Piers Morgan, a well-known Messi critic, wrote: “Disgusting behavior from the Argentinians at the end, especially Paredes. Just a bunch of nasty, violent thugs and a disgrace to football. I’ve never been so happy when a team lost.”

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

After the match, there was a clash between the Argentine defender Paredes and the Spanish players, which resulted in Paredes receiving a red card for the fight. This incident created a lot of discussion on social media.

Commentators criticized Argentina for what they saw as unsportsmanlike behaviour, including physical altercations during and after the match, suggesting that the team showed a lack of class in both victory and defeat.

After Enzo Fernandez received a second yellow card, Argentina were reduced to ten men, which limited their attacking abilities and allowed Spain to dominate the match, eventually leading to Spain’s winning goal in extra time.

Enzo Fernandez’s red card made him the third Argentine and the sixth player overall to be sent off in a World Cup finals, highlighting Argentina’s troubled disciplinary history in these key matches.

Yes, many analysts believe that Argentina should rethink their strategy and overall approach to maintain discipline and improve their performance, especially when they struggled to convert chances and faced disciplinary problems in the final.

Read also | Who is Ferran Torres? The Spanish super-sub scored the winning goal in the World Cup final

British presenter Alex Armstrong wrote: “No one deserves to lose this World Cup more than Argentina. Dirtiest and nastiest team in the tournament. Pathetic. Class of Spain, the whole world was behind you.”

Argentina players show zero class. Disgusting,” a Cristiano Ronaldo fan wrote about the incident.

Italian broadcaster Tancredi Palmeri wrote: “Argentina didn’t just lose the final. For the first time ever I saw a team that ruined the winners’ celebration. Shame on Argentina.”

One user commented: “Billions of people watching around the world and Argentina decided to start FIGHTING after the final whistle. To behave like this in a world cup final is absolutely horrible. They should be ashamed of themselves.”

“The scenes after the final whistle are supposed to be about pure emotion, not this. Argentina really destroyed the sport,” another user said.

Read also | WATCH: Ugly scenes as Spain and Argentina players fight after 2026 World Cup final

The broadcaster’s Terry Flewers wrote of Messi’s performance: “Lionel Messi has just produced the worst World Cup final performance by any captain, for any country, ever. No influence, no leadership, no threat and no response when Argentina needed him most. A complete disappearance on the biggest stage.”

“This team will stink without Messi. Enjoy never winning a World Cup again, I’ll love every second of it,” another user wrote.

However, not everyone was completely critical of Messi and Argentina.

“Thank you for everything. At the age of 39 we ended one of the best World Cup campaigns. The greatest athlete of all time. The greatest player in the history of the sport,” wrote one.

Read also | Messi breaks down in tears after Argentina fail to reach World Cup final

“Messi’s tears break me; they destroy me. His image appears on the screen and everyone immediately gives him a standing ovation. You will never go alone captain. Argentina loves you,” another user wrote.

Chaos in the World Cup final

Chaos broke out the moment Spain sealed their victory. Argentina’s Molina hit an opponent who was rushing to celebrate. Fury had come to a boil earlier in the break.

Enzo Fernandez, already booked, recklessly lunged at Pau Cubarsí. The referee had no choice but to show the Argentine hero of the semi-final against England a red card. Enzo stormed off furiously and dropped the broadcast microphone.

Together, Enzo and Paredes became the 6th and 7th red cards in history in a World Cup final. Previous culprits include Argentina’s Monzon and Dezotti.

The Frenchman Desailly and the legendary Zidane also appeared on the list. The Netherlands’ Heitinga completed this infamous, ignominious list.

Notably, this was not Argentina’s first double elimination. Back in 1990, it happened the same way against West Germany. History repeated itself 36 years later. Surprisingly, 4 of the 7 released players are Argentine.