Former England captain Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing assessment of the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, admitting he couldn't wait for the music to stop. The Manchester United legend was left unimpressed by the star-studded spectacle at MetLife Stadium, which featured global icons like Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber.
The former Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria quickly reached out to his compatriots to offer comfort after Lionel Scaloni's men suffered a painful extra-time defeat. Writing on social media, the legendary winger fiercely defended the squad's incredible legacy and insisted that a single match would never diminish their standing as icons of the nation.
The 2026 World Cup is over, and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. With the expanded 48-nation tournament coming to a close, following a month of thrilling action in North America, which star has taken home the illustrious award? Here, GOAL lists the tournament's most prolific performers.
Spain's World Cup celebrations produced one of the defining images of the tournament as Lamine Yamal embraced a devastated Lionel Messi following the final whistle. Argentina's 1-0 defeat left the Albiceleste heartbroken, while the emotional exchange between football's past and present quickly became the enduring image of the night.
Nico Paz has sent an emotional message of defiance to supporters following the Albiceleste's agonising defeat in New York. Despite not featuring on the pitch during the showpiece event, the youngster voiced his immense pride in the squad and focused on long-term redemption by promising to secure the trophy in the future.
Unai Simon has described Spain’s World Cup glory as "madness" after the Athletic Club goalkeeper played a key role in La Roja’s historic march to the title. The 29-year-old was awarded the Golden Glove after maintaining a near-impenetrable wall at the back, helping his nation reclaim the trophy for the first time in 16 years.
Cristian Romero has sparked intense debate online following a controversial moment during the post-match presentation in New York. The Argentine centre-back appeared to have entirely ignored US President Donald Trump while receiving his runners-up medal, capping off a thoroughly uncomfortable evening for the American leader at MetLife Stadium.
Spain’s dominance extended beyond the World Cup trophy, with Rodri headlining the tournament’s official award winners. France's Kylian Mbappe took home the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals, while Unai Simon and Pau Cubarsi earned individual honors as nearly 6.9 million fans attended the expanded 104-match competition across North America.
Nicolas Otamendi targeted his former club team-mate Rodri following a chaotic end to the showpiece event in New York. The Argentina centre-back felt the Spanish squad spent the build-up deliberately applying pressure on the officials, suggesting these complaints directly contributed to their heartbreaking extra-time defeat.
Lionel Messi came under fire after appearing to urge the referee to send off Marc Cucurella during the World Cup final. The Argentina captain's reaction followed Enzo Fernandez's dismissal, with former England international Lee Dixon calling the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's behaviour "ridiculous" during the dramatic match.
Luis de la Fuente praised Spain's "sublime" team performance after their victory in the 2026 World Cup final over Argentina, insisting collective discipline was the key to victory. The Spain boss also revealed how his side limited Lionel Messi's influence and credited his players' dedication for delivering football's biggest prize.
Spain's extra-time hero Ferran Torres has reflected on his historic contribution after firing his nation to global glory in a tense encounter in North America. The forward believes their dramatic triumph was predestined, praising his team-mates' resilience against formidable opponents before acknowledging the divine strength that guided them to ultimate victory.
Former Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has weighed in with a blunt social media reaction to Argentina's toothless display following their defeat in the showpiece event. The legendary playmaker clearly enjoyed the result in North America, subtly mocking the South American side's disciplinary issues and completely negative tactical approach.
Rodri capped Spain's World Cup triumph by winning the Golden Ball after their final victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium. La Roja also claimed the Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards through Unai Simon and Pau Cubarsi, while Kylian Mbappe finished as the tournament's top scorer to secure the Golden Boot.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Lionel Scaloni broke into tears and left his postmatch press conference early after diving into his current thoughts on returning as Argentina's manager. The 48-year-old revealed he will speak to the Argentina FA's President, Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia, about his future soon, but acknowledged that the pressure of reaching the levels of previous success could be difficult to manage.
Kylian Mbappe claimed the World Cup Golden Boot for a second time after scoring ten goals in eight appearances at the 2026 tournament. The France captain became the first player since Gerd Muller in 1970 to reach double figures in a single World Cup, although his individual success came amid France's disappointing finish.
Argentina's World Cup title defence ended in chaotic fashion as Leandro Paredes was sent off for his role in a mass brawl following their final defeat to Spain. Enzo Fernandez had already been dismissed before the final whistle, while post-match violence overshadowed Spain's historic triumph and drew strong criticism from pundits.
A chippy World Cup final between Spain and Argentina got ugly once the final whistle confirmed La Roja as champions. Several La Albiceleste players tried to confront the champions' players on the pitch. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had to play peacekeeper as he broke up several skirmishes on the pitch.
As time ticked on and the shadows continued to envelop the pitch in New Jersey, Argentina kept waiting. Surely, the moment would arrive, right? It always does? For the last two World Cups, there was always a Lionel Messi moment of magic, and it always seemed to arrive when Argentina needed it most.
Ferran Torres scored the only goal to win Spain the 2026 World Cup in a remarkably drab final. La Roja were the only side eager to play football on the day, and ran out deserved winners in extra-time thanks to the Barcelona forward's heroics. With the victory, they secured back-to-back major trophy wins - and might have ended Leo Messi's Argentina career with a loss.
England’s World Cup journey ended on a high note on the pitch, but the post-match celebrations were marred by an ugly confrontation in the mixed zone. Following the Three Lions' thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the bronze medal match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, police were forced to intervene during a media session with captain Harry Kane.
Declan Rice etched his name into the history books as England secured a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup with a chaotic 6-4 victory over France. The Arsenal midfielder stepped up to lead the Three Lions in Miami, delivering a masterclass that saw him surpass legendary figures like David Beckham and Harry Kane in the record books.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has arguably been the busiest man at the 2026 World Cup, clocking up a staggering mileage that would see him circle the globe more than twice. As the tournament prepares for its grand finale between Argentina and Spain in New Jersey, the full scale of the president’s exhaustive itinerary has been revealed.
Neymar has decided to heal the wounds of his international retirement by splashing out on a staggering £17 million ($23m) superyacht. The Brazilian legend, who called time on his Selecao career following their World Cup exit, has followed in the footsteps of fellow icons David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo by investing in a luxury vessel.
For the first time in football history, the winners of the World Cup will be presented with American-style championship rings following the final in New Jersey. FIFA has confirmed that a limited run of these luxury mementos will also be made available to the public, though the staggering price tag has already raised eyebrows across the globe.
France's 2026 World Cup journey ended in high-scoring heartbreak and internal friction as Didier Deschamps witnessed a total collapse in their third-place play-off against England. Amidst a frantic 6-4 defeat in Miami, the spotlight shifted from the pitch to the touchline as Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki once again clashed with his veteran manager.
David Beckham found himself in the unusual position after being vocally booed by a live audience during a high-profile public appearance. The former England captain found himself in the crosshairs of a frustrated crowd while discussing the upcoming World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
Spain striker Borja Iglesias has injected some humor into the build-up to the 2026 World Cup final by joking that he only intends to shake hands with Donald Trump to avoid ending up in a jail cell. The Celta Vigo forward is part of the La Roja squad preparing to face Argentina at the MetLife Stadium, where the United States President is expected to be part of the official trophy presentation.
Lionel Messi and Argentina are readying themselves for a historic World Cup final showdown against Spain, but the defending champions may have a superstitious hurdle to overcome. Rapper Drake has publicly backed the Albiceleste with a massive financial wager, sparking fears among supporters that the infamous "Drake curse" could strike.
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