Leandro Paredes charges at a Spanish player after the final whistle. [Reuters]
Leandro Paredes charges at a Spanish player after the final whistle. [Reuters]

Argentina had two players sent off in a single World Cup final — the first time that has happened in 36 years, since the 1990 Italy tournament final against West Germany.

On Monday, Argentina lost to Spain 0-1 after extra time in the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The first red card came in second-half stoppage time. Enzo Fernandez, already on a yellow card, lunged into a reckless late tackle on Pau Cubarsí, and the referee immediately produced a second yellow. As Fernandez walked off the pitch, he kicked a broadcast microphone lying on the ground.

The second dismissal came after the final whistle. As the whistle sounded, Leandro Paredes sprinted toward the Spanish players, shoving Eric Garcia and Gavi to the ground in quick succession before throwing punches.

[Reuters]
[Reuters]

The pitch descended into a brawl as celebrating Spanish players and their Argentine counterparts clashed en masse. Paredes, along with Rodrigo De Paul, has long been regarded as one of Lionel Messi's chief enforcers in the Argentine national team.

The two dismissals made Fernandez and Paredes the sixth and seventh players ever sent off in a World Cup final.

Of the seven players dismissed in World Cup finals throughout history, four have been Argentine.

The earlier red cards went to Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti (both Argentina) in the 1990 Italy final, Marcel Desailly (France) in the 1998 France final, Zinedine Zidane (France) in the 2006 Germany final, and John Heitinga (Netherlands) in the 2010 South Africa final.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, speaking to Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports after the match, said the players' effort on the pitch was "a great example for our people and our country" and that the team had "proven we know how to lose."


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