World Cup final referee bodycam footage shows Messi asked to control teammate, Trump praising official

Published Aug 17, 04:10 AM UTC

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 the match. The video shows Vincic asking Lionel Messi to control teammate Leandro Paredes, who had already received a yellow card, to prevent a second booking. It also captures U.S. President Donald Trump telling Vincic he did a 'great job' during the medal ceremony. The footage, produced in collaboration with Lenovo using a stabilization algorithm, offers insights into key moments including a yellow card for Lisandro Martinez and interactions with players like Enzo Fernandez and Lamine Yamal. Notably, the post-match brawl involving Paredes, who is under FIFA investigation for three counts of assault, is not shown in the video.