There were only minutes left before the final became even more complicated for Argentina. 🇦🇷
Leandro Paredes had come on at halftime, and after just seven minutes he already had a yellow card. Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, knowing that a second card meant a sending-off, walked straight over to Messi: “Control him, I don’t want to send him off”. The captain, with the calm that characterizes him, replied: “Okay, okay”. 🎙️
The scene remained hidden for almost a month, until FIFA released footage from the referee’s body camera, now retired after officiating 513 matches. The video also shows the sending-off of Enzo Fernández and looks back at a final that Spain ended up winning in extra time with a goal from Ferran Torres. Another chapter from that match that Argentina could not close out in its favor. ⚽
“Messi, control Paredes, I don’t want to send him off”
— GODINISMO (@GODINISMO93) August 16, 2026
💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/gdGMOqXy0N