Argentina’s national team came under fire for its behavior throughout much of the 2026 World Cup, particularly in Sunday’s final, when it was beaten by Spain in New Jersey.

The final whistle was followed by an ugly confrontation involving Leandro Paredes and Spain duo Éric García and Gavi, while a clip of assistant coach Roberto Ayala appearing to strike Dani Olmo quickly began circulating on social media.

Additionally, Nicolás Otamendi became embroiled in a heated discussion with Spain captain Rodri moments before the World Cup medal ceremony.

Argentina’s controversial medal ceremony

Soon after, as Spain celebrated its victory, Argentina’s players turned their backs on the trophy presentation instead of watching their opponents lift the World Cup.

Rather than facing the stage, as runners-up traditionally do during the medal ceremony, the Argentina squad turned toward the section of the stadium where its supporters remained, breaking with one of the sport’s longstanding traditions.

The gesture was met with a negative reaction from many Spain fans, as well as neutral observers watching the ceremony. According to reports, members of Spain’s locker room were surprised by what they had seen, and criticism of Argentina’s actions quickly spread.

The one player who did things differently: Who is Flaco López?

On closer inspection, however, there was one player who went against the grain and faced the opposite direction from his teammates as Rodri lifted the World Cup trophy high into the New Jersey sky.

Striker José Manuel López, often referred to as Flaco López, was the man in question.

Arguably the lowest-profile player on the roster, certainly outside South America, López currently plays for Brazilian club Palmeiras, who he joined in July 2022.

After receiving his first senior call-up in August 2025, the 25-year-old made his Argentina debut in October last year and has since made seven appearances. López played two games as a substitute at the 2026 World Cup, setting up Julián Álvarez’s spectacular goal in the quarterfinal against Switzerland.

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