The World Cup final grew contentious after extra time as Spain claimed the title. Here is a frame-by-frame account of what unfolded.
The match is over… or is it?
When referee Slavko Vincic sounds the final whistle, Spain’s substitutes rush onto the field to celebrate winning the World Cup with their teammates.
Molina throws the first blow
Rodri is hit by Nahuel Molina near the center line, with the Argentine right-back forcefully swinging his arm at the Spanish captain.
… Rodri responds
Rodri spins around and faces Molina, and the two players stand off while their teammates are still unaware of what is happening.
Eric García joins the fray
García sees the incident and sprints over to Rodri and Molina, trying to stop the situation from getting worse.
… and Paredes follows
Now Leandro Paredes enters the conflict. He dashes across and targets García, sending him to the ground. The assistant referee tries to step between them, but cannot separate the pair.
Paredes attacks García again
García gets back to his feet only to be assaulted once more by Paredes, who grabs the Spanish player by the throat while the assistant referee continues to try to break them apart. Argentina’s coaching staff – including head coach Lionel Scaloni – gather around García and shield him from their own teammate.
Gavi is surrounded
Paredes then turns his attention to Gavi. The 21-year-old midfielder is pushed and pulled by Paredes and Argentina substitute Thiago Almada, who tear the Spaniard’s training bib. Gavi falls to the ground and tries to rise, but Paredes shoves him down again.
A joyful finale
Leandro Paredes is dismissed after the final whistle, and Argentina now face disciplinary measures: FIFA will review the post-match scenes before deciding whether to impose sanctions.
Spain, meanwhile, celebrate securing the World Cup for the second time in their history.
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