Argentina’s Leandro Paredes has continued to make headlines for his actions during and after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Paredes was at the centre of attention as tensions flared between several Argentina and Spain players after the final whistle. The midfielder was seen grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat before later shoving Gavi to the ground.
While his actions have been widely criticised across the football world, Spain sensation Lamine Yamal appeared to share his thoughts on the incident by poking fun at Paredes.
During Spain’s World Cup celebrations, the teenager was seen holding a sign referencing Paredes’ altercation with Gavi.
Leandro Paredes (5) gets violent against Gavi (9) after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina. (Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
The Barcelona starlet was interacting with a provocative sign thrown from the crowd that referenced a celebrity boxing event. The poster read: “Velada del Año VII: Paredes vs Gavi.”
Yamal appeared to enjoy the joke, smiling as he acknowledged the sign during the open-top bus parade.
The young winger was one of the stars of the celebrations, at one point taking the microphone to sing Bad Bunny songs while dancing alongside his long-time friend and teammate, Nico Williams.
While Spain’s players continue to celebrate their triumph, some Argentina players, including Paredes, have broken their silence on the final.
The Boca Juniors midfielder remained defiant in his post-match assessment. Writing on social media, he shared a heartfelt message:
“Thank you, Argentina!!! I love you, today and always. Today, I write with a heavy heart, having been unable to bring our country the joy it so richly deserves—but with a chest full of pride for having given everything we had.”
Paredes was shown a red card for his actions against the Spain players, and it remains to be seen what punishment FIFA will hand him.
