The 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, which was decided by a 1-0 Spanish victory, left several controversies beyond the result. From refereeing decisions to post-match incidents, including the unexpected prominence of Donald Trump, these are some of the scenes that have generated the most controversy.

Ferran Torres will go down in history as the decisive goalscorer in the second World Cup won by the Spanish national team in its entire history. In extra time, the Valencian from Barça shot down Dibu Martínez, who had made several saves, to unleash a delirium that will last for years. Here are some immediate thoughts.

A new era has begun in world football. Spain sewed the second star as world champion onto their jersey after defeating an Argentina in extra time, who had run out of miracles in the semifinals. The final of a strange and exciting World Cup was always played according to what Spain wanted, turning everything around the ball, attacking with ambition. Glory is theirs after a final in which Messi, very disconnected from the game, ceded the crown to Lamine Yamal. An era ends and a new one begins, personified in the young man from Rocafonda. One man alone cannot win World Cups, but a team can. And Luis de la Fuente's team, a coach until recently unknown, is a block that defends a style. An idea in which the collective rules, even though a lack of accuracy prolonged the agony until extra time. A final decided thanks to an unexpected hero, the Valencian Ferran Torres, who caught a ball inside the area. If in 2010 Spain won their first World Cup with a goal from Iniesta in the 116th minute, on this occasion the goal arrived in the 106th thanks, once again, to a Barça player.

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, will not attend the final live in New York due to superstition. He has confirmed that so far he has watched all the World Cup matches at Las Oliveras (his presidential residence) with his sister and that he will continue to do so. When I read the news, I remembered an acquaintance from the neighborhood, a very nice guy who has an old dog named Lola, and who last Wednesday before the semi-final match against England, and in the middle of the heatwave, they were walking at noon with the Argentina jersey on, him and the dog. When I commented that poor Lola, that she was roasting, he said: “It’s for superstition.” “Ah, okay! Then I won’t say anything,” I replied.

Leo Messi's Argentina came from behind against Egypt in a match marked by refereeing decisions. The North Africans have bitterly complained about François Letexier's performance and went so far as to claim that the match was "fixed" and that they had suffered "a great injustice." A duel full of controversies, almost all of which favored the current world champions.

Leo Messi's family confirmed this Thursday that Jorge Messi, the Argentine footballer's father, has been admitted to the hospital for a health problem about which no details have been disclosed. In a statement, the family environment indicated that he is "under medical supervision, recovering and evolving favorably within the framework he presents," the family said.