2026 World Cup: Who Is the Only Argentine Player Who Didn’t Turn Around During Spain’s Celebration?

Argentina’s behavior following the 2026 World Cup final sparked debate on social media and in the press in the days after their loss to Spain in the championship match. While the Red Fury lifted the World Cup trophy, Lionel Messi and his teammates all turned toward the stands where their fans were singing, and did not watch the ceremony. This gesture was harshly criticized and deemed disrespectful by many fans and industry insiders.

But there is one exception: José Manuel López. The Palmeiras forward, nicknamed El Flaco, was the only one who did not turn his back and watched the entire award ceremony for Spain; images of him on social media went viral. While Argentina broke protocol and turned as a team to applaud their own fans, Lopez remained facing the stage, showing respect and applauding as Rodri lifted the trophy toward the sky.

The player, who played just 20 minutes throughout the entire tournament, was held up as an example of fair play on social media. Born in 2000, López has played for Lanús and Palmeiras during his career. He has made a total of seven appearances for Argentina’s senior national team, including two World Cup matches against Jordan and Switzerland, always coming on as a substitute.

Argentina now faces two disciplinary issues following the defeat: the investigation opened into the “Las Malvinas son argentinas” banner displayed by Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, and Lisandro Martínez after the semifinal victory over England, and the situation involving Enzo Fernández, who could face a lengthy suspension for his vehement protests following the red card he received during regulation time of the final. The behavior of some players and staff members after the final whistle has also come under scrutiny by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.