Paredes Calls Argentina's 2026 Squad Greatest Ever After World Cup Final Loss

Q: How can the 'greatest' Argentina team in history also be responsible for the World Cup's 'ugliest scenes'?

There is no contradiction: a team can be historically great in footballing terms and still fail badly in conduct. Paredes’ claim that this is Argentina’s “greatest” side reflects achievement and identity, not behavior in one night. This squad arrived as defending world champions, reached another final, and was built around Lionel Messi’s last World Cup run. Even in defeat, Argentina’s broader cycle under Lionel Scaloni included a World Cup title and two Copa Américas, which is why players see it as an era-defining team. But the final against Spain exposed the other side of that identity. Argentina lost 1-0 after extra time, failed to register a shot on target, and became increasingly ill-disciplined. Paredes was booked soon after coming on, appeared lucky to avoid a second yellow, and was later sent off after the whistle for his role in a confrontation with Eric García and Gavi. Enzo Fernández had already been dismissed late in normal time, leaving Argentina with 10 men for extra time. FIFA is now investigating the post-match clashes and other combative behavior. That is why the team can be described both ways. “Greatest” refers to its record, resilience and place in Argentina’s football history. The “ugliest scenes” refer to how some players reacted when that era’s biggest match slipped away. Great teams are not automatically graceful teams, and Argentina’s final showed how sporting legacy and sportsmanship can diverge sharply.

Q: Was Argentina's historic attacking failure a result of poor tactics or Spain's defensive perfection?

It was both, but mainly Spain’s defensive perfection exposing Argentina’s tactical limits. Spain did not just defend well; they controlled the entire match. They had about 65% possession, pressed aggressively, held a high line, and repeatedly cut off the supply to Lionel Messi. Argentina failed to register a shot in the first 90 minutes and did not produce their first attempt until the 115th minute, finishing without a shot on target. That points to a defensive performance of rare quality. Across the tournament, Spain conceded only one goal in eight matches, and in the final they allowed almost nothing of value. At the same time, Argentina’s setup made Spain’s job easier. Lionel Scaloni built the side around a 39-year-old Messi, using a narrow, conservative structure that prioritized defensive density over attacking variety. The midfield offered bite but little dynamism, and Argentina lacked an alternative route once Spain shut down central spaces. Even before Enzo Fernández’s late red card, Argentina had created virtually nothing. The final showed that Spain’s system was the decisive force, but Argentina also contributed to their own failure by choosing a reactive plan with too little ambition and too few attacking solutions. Scaloni himself admitted Spain were better. The evidence suggests this was not simply Argentina playing badly; it was Spain producing a historically dominant defensive display against a team whose tactical framework was too limited to respond.

3 articles · Updated · AS USA · Jul 21

Leandro Paredes said he wrote “with so much pain in my heart” after Argentina failed to win the 2026 World Cup final, while insisting the team still made the country proud.
The midfielder used an Instagram post after returning to Argentina to thank teammates and declare the group “the greatest Argentina national team in history.”
Paredes had become a flashpoint in the final after losing his starting place, entering in the second half and drawing a yellow card within 6 minutes.
That tension spilled over after the whistle, when he clashed physically with Spain’s Eric García and Gavi in one of the tournament’s ugliest confrontations.