Slavko Vincic, the referee for the 2026 World Cup final, has dismissed criticism that Lionel Messi employed unsportsmanlike tactics during Argentina's extra-time defeat to Spain. In an interview, Vincic stated that Messi exhibited exemplary behaviour on the pitch, contrary to claims about his conduct.
Vincic defends Messi's conduct
Argentina faced backlash for their aggressive approach in the final, which Spain won 1-0 thanks to Ferran Torres's extra-time goal. Messi was criticised for attempting to get Spain left-back Marc Cucurella sent off after Cucurella briefly spoke with his hand over his mouth—an offence that had earlier resulted in a red card for Paraguay's Miguel Almiron. However, Vincic emphasised that Messi remained sportsmanlike throughout. 'That conversation will stay on the pitch,' Vincic said. 'But I can confirm that Messi was extremely sportsmanlike.'
FIFA charges against Argentina
Following the match, FIFA charged Argentina players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, as well as coach Roberto Ayala, who punched Spain midfielder Dani Olmo during a post-match brawl. Vincic, who announced his retirement after the World Cup, noted that managing players' emotions was the biggest challenge. 'The burden is great when your entire refereeing career is poured into one match,' he said. 'The biggest challenge was dealing with the emotions of the football players. This is the World Cup final, the mindsets and reactions are different.'
Vincic's preparation and performance
Vincic revealed that he studied players' characteristics, such as foul frequency and behaviour during breaks, but acknowledged that complete preparation is impossible. 'The match has its own course and within that you try to do your job as well as possible,' he explained. 'After the final whistle, we were not too much of a problem, which indicates that we generally did an okay job, so I think the refereeing strategy was right.'
