Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi has blamed Spain captain Rodri for his side’s defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, accusing the midfielder of influencing the referee during the match.
Spain edged Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift the World Cup trophy, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute. The match ended on a heated note as tensions boiled over between players from both teams.
Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card deep into stoppage time, reducing Lionel Scaloni’s side to 10 men before the end of the contest. Several Argentine players were also booked during the fiercely contested final.
Following the final whistle, confrontations broke out on the pitch, involving players from both sides. Otamendi was seen exchanging words with Rodri, accusing the Spanish midfielder and defender Aymeric Laporte of attempting to put pressure on match officials before the game.
According to Otamendi, Spain’s players had spent days complaining about refereeing decisions ahead of the final in a bid to influence officials.
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The veteran defender also referenced Laporte’s pre-match comments, in which the Spain centre-back criticised Argentina’s physical style of play and questioned some officiating decisions during the tournament.
Despite the controversy, Spain held on to secure their second FIFA World Cup title under head coach Luis de la Fuente, who has now added the World Cup to the UEFA European Championship he previously won with La Roja.
The victory marked another major milestone for Spain, while Argentina were left to reflect on a disappointing end to their title defence after an emotionally charged final.
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