10 maddest World Cup closing moments as fights, riots and Donald Trump overshadow soccer

Spain beat an embarrassing Argentina team to deservedly win the World Cup final 1-0 thanks to Ferran Torres’ goal in extra-time. La Albiceleste failed to register a shot on target in 120 minutes while Spain dominated the ball, as fans hailed “football won” at the end of a mad final.

The chaos began before kick-off with giant queues outside the ground as security, overseen by the secret service, increased due to Donald Trump’s presence. Fans were told to get to the stadium four hours before kick off but delays were caused by system glitches and people being misdirected.

Argentina suffered the first blow when Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez was forced off injured in the first-half and left the pitch in tears with his shirt over his face. It remains to be seen the extent of the injury but Martinez had to come back from an ACL injury during the 2024/25 season, while a calf injury left him on the sideline for almost two months during the run-in.

But the game was scoreless at half-time before the American nonsense of a half-time show took place. There had been reports that UK broadcasters had planned to skip the half-time show, choosing instead to stick to traditional football coverage and prioritise expert studio analysis of the first half. However, it was shown in its entirety with performances from Madonna, Justin Bieber, the Muppets, Shakira and Coldplay. There was even a bizarre moment that saw Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in a car with Madonna.

Wayne Rooney delivered a brutal assessment of the World Cup half-time show. When asked for his favourite part, he brilliantly said: “When it finished.” Before explaining his view: “I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap.”

With the game heading to extra-time, Enzo Fernandez saw red at the end of normal time with Alan Shearer saying the Chelsea man “cost his team massively”. Fernandez was already on a yellow card for dissent when he clattered into Pau Cubarsí in the 93rd minute, catching the Spanish defender late and sending him flipping in the air.

In the aftermath, Lionel Messi was seen trying to get Marc Cucurella sent off for covering his mouth – immediately telling the referee like he was a child on the school ground finding a teacher.

Following Torres’ winner, punches were thrown after the full-time whistle as Spain’s celebrations at MetLife Stadium turned ugly. Footage picked up Nahuel Molina seemingly punching one of the subs as they ran past before Leandro Paredes shoved and tried to grab Gavi.

Then came the trophy lift and Donald Trump being booed by a wall of fans moments before sparking another cringeworthy scene by refusing to budge and hijacking Spain’s trophy celebrations.

Lionel Messi left the pitch in tears in what looks to have been his final Argentina game at the World Cup as he trudged away with his second-place medal. Argentina fans are already mourning his likely exit as the national team enters a new era without the greatest player of all-time.

While Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni’s tournament also ended in tears as he cried during the post-match press conference. Failing to hold back his emotions, he said: “Bear with me, I don’t know if I can continue”. This place is wonderful, it is a dream place,” he said. “We would never have imagined, including my staff, that we would be in this place.

“In order to continue you need a great deal of things, especially resetting your mind, rebooting, creating a group like this again. That is very difficult to create again.” He eventually stood up and apologised before leaving the room. “It’s really painful, I am very sorry.”

But back home, police sprayed tear gas and used a water cannon to calm riots in Buenos Aires following Argentina’s loss. Thousands gathered in the streets of the Argentinian capital to watch the final but riots broke out and chaos then reigned for 20 minutes as a “large group” of fans then started hurling glass bottles and other projectiles at the police.