World Cup final referee body-cam footage shows Messi asked to control teammate, Trump praise

Published Aug 17, 04:10 AM UTC

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Newly released footage from referee Slavko Vincic's body camera during the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina provides a unique perspective on key moments. The video shows Vincic asking Lionel Messi to 'control' teammate Leandro Paredes, who had already received a yellow card and later faced a FIFA investigation for assault after the match. It also captures Vincic's view of Ferran Torres' winning goal for Spain and U.S. President Donald Trump telling the referee he did a 'great job' during the medal ceremony. The footage, using a stabilization algorithm developed with Lenovo, follows the success of similar technology at the 2025 Club World Cup. The match, held at MetLife Stadium on July 19, ended with Spain's victory.

Source

Soccer - The AthleticWestern

Original headline: The referee’s view of the World Cup final: Telling Messi to ‘control’ a player and a ‘well done’ from Trump

Original language: EN

Part of this Story

FIFA Releases Referee Body-Cam Footage of 2026 World Cup Final

See the full Story: all sources and camp coverage

People and interests

Lionel Messi Donald Trump FIFA