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What Happened Between Gavi & Leandro Paredes To Start the Fight? Inside the World Cup Final's Controversial Ending
Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images

What Happened Between Gavi & Leandro Paredes To Start the Fight? Inside the World Cup Final's Controversial Ending

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Pragjyoti Singh  |  Last updated Jul 19, 2026 7:00 PM ET
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Spain lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final.

After Emiliano Martínez's heroics helped Argentina keep the match level, Spain's Ferran Torres scored in extra time to secure the trophy for La Roja, ending the nation's 16-year wait for a World Cup title.

Argentina's defensive plan broke down late in the match after midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off in the 90th minute after receiving a second yellow card, forcing the defending champions to play the entire extra-time period with just 10 men.

What Happened Between Gavi & Leandro Paredes?

After the final whistle, a heated exchange broke out between Spain's Gavi and Argentina's Leandro Paredes.

Spain's substitutes rushed onto the field to celebrate their World Cup triumph, but emotions boiled over as frustrated Argentine players confronted their opponents.

Argentina's midfielder #05 Leandro Paredes (top) clashes with Spain's midfielder #09 Gavi.Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images

Videos from the incident showed Paredes confronting Gavi, wrestling the young Barcelona midfielder to the ground, and shoving him in the face.

According to Fabrizio Romano on X, Paredes was shown a straight red card after the final whistle for his role in the altercation.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also rushed in to separate his players and prevent the situation from escalating further.

The exact cause of the confrontation remains unclear, and there has been no official information on what was said between the two players.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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