A World Cup final which rarely burst into life saved some of its biggest intrigue for after the final whistle.
And predictably, the focus was on Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino, whose relationship delivered the single most controversial incident of this tournament (the Folarin Balogun affair).
Both men were met with loud booing when they appeared on the MetLife pitch as they prepared to present Spain with the World Cup, moments after a fractious finale where members of both sides had engaged in a shoving match.
They were undoubtedly the central characters in the post-match ceremonies, but supporting cast members did manage to make a mark.
The referees gave us some fun. After they received their medals from Infantino and Trump, they lined up to have a last photograph together. Look at Mohammad Alkalaf on the far left. Alkalaf was the reserve referee for the final and the Jordanian is up on his tiptoes.
The match officials pose with their medals, including a tip-toeing Mohammad Alkalaf on the far left (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Don’t worry, Mohammad. From one average-sized man to another: we have all been there.
Pau Cubarsi received the Young Player award for the tournament, and deservedly so. A 19-year-old playing every minute of his first World Cup and being part of a defence that only conceded one goal? Remarkable.
Unai Simon was awarded the Golden Glove award, which he received from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney; he also managed to accept it with more grace than Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez managed four years ago in Qatar.
Martinez played well on Sunday. Brilliantly, in fact, and he was really the only reason Argentina even made it to extra time. Nevertheless, Simon was by far and away the best goalkeeper at the tournament as a whole and, thankfully, managed not to use the Golden Glove to make any crude gestures.
Unai Simon’s receipt of the Golden Glove was rather different to Emi Martinez… (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
… who had a cruder approach in 2022 (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)
And Rodri received the Golden Ball award as the World Cup’s best overall player. Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican president, presented him with his trophy, and as she did so the Argentinian fans loudly chanted Lionel Messi’s name.
That’s probably the last World Cup for Messi. He had a bad final, but a great tournament — an amazing one for a 39-year-old who is years beyond his athletic prime.
He actually seemed emotionless at full time, smiling ruefully as he was embraced by team-mates and some of the Barcelona-based Spanish players. But he cracked after receiving his runners-up medal and gazed towards the Argentina fans at the far end of the stadium.
He is not an emotional player. Aside from the occasional flash of anger or goalscoring joy, he has shown little of himself across his career. This was him at his most vulnerable and human. He melted into tears as the fans continued to chant his name and his team-mates slowly started gathering around.
Lionel Messi breaks down after the World Cup final (Patricia Del Moreira/AFP via Getty Images)
Other Argentina players expressed themselves in different ways. Cristian Romero appeared to be the only one to not shake hands with Trump. Was it a snub, or an oversight? Make up your own minds.
— 𝑺 (@SZYComps) July 19, 2026
Certainly, not many of the Argentines seemed keen to engage. During the presentation of the winners’ medals, many of Romero’s team-mates stayed down the other end of the pitch, with their backs to the ceremony (although there was the odd exception, such as Alexis Mac Allister). Given the unpleasantness at the end, it was not such a surprise, but it was hardly their best moment.
Argentina turn away from Spain during the trophy presentation (Fox)
Infantino and Trump handed out the medals to the Spanish players. Many of them wore flags from their regions around their waists as they made their way across the podium, earning a hug from their King, Felipe VI, as they went past.
Then, the trophy lift. And, most likely, the moment that had been keeping Infantino awake at night.
At the Club World Cup final last summer, Trump inserted himself into Chelsea’s trophy presentation, standing among the players as they celebrated and the fireworks went off. Infantino likes to have control over these occasions — have you noticed? — and was presumably not keen on a repeat.
He and Trump each kept a hand on the trophy as they walked it over to the victorious Spanish players. Then, after they passed it to Rodri, the captain, Infantino attempted to guide Trump to one side.
Infantino and Trump walked the trophy over to the Spain squad (Evrim Aydin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Infantino walked away. Trump did not follow. Rodri found himself in the position Reece James did a year ago, not really knowing what to do next. Some of the players mimicked Trump’s Village People dance, which he performed for them. Did Rodri ask Trump to then step aside? He seemed to, although it was slightly unclear.
Either way, the President moved, getting out the way, only for Infantino to panic and in the seconds before Spain were about to lift the World Cup, he and his white trainers — outrageously, blindingly white — came scuttling across the front of the podium to wrangle Trump.
There were other, less cringey highlights. Lamine Yamal’s young brother earned a roar from the crowd when he was shown on the big screen with his parents.
He’s a celebrity in his own right. Javier Bardem, wearing a Spain replica shirt with Borja Iglesias’ name and No 26 on the back, was shown celebrating in the stands.
Lamine Yamal’s brother Keyne emerged as the star of the tournament (Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images)
But the image of the moment was Infantino, of course. Him and his shoes, running across the stage in pursuit of Trump. It was awkward, and slightly mortifying, but a perfect metaphor for their relationship and an ideal way for the World Cup to end.