Former Spain captain Sergio Ramos was seen consoling Argentina’s Lionel Messi after Spain defeated the defending champions in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The emotional moment came moments after Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina following extra time on Sunday, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal in the 106th minute to hand La Roja the world title.
Television footage captured Ramos approaching Messi after the final whistle, offering words of encouragement as the Argentina captain came to terms with the heartbreaking defeat.
The gesture reflected the mutual respect that has developed between two of football’s biggest names despite years of fierce rivalry.
Messi and Ramos spent more than a decade as opponents during El Clasico clashes, with the Argentine starring for Barcelona while Ramos captained Real Madrid. Their rivalry was one of the defining storylines of Spanish football.
The pair later became teammates at Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, spending two seasons together in France before going their separate ways.
Despite Argentina’s defeat, Messi enjoyed another impressive World Cup campaign. The 39-year-old finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, helping his country reach a second consecutive World Cup final.
Spain, however, produced the stronger performance in the final. The European champions dominated possession, created more scoring opportunities and eventually found the breakthrough in extra time to lift the trophy.
The post-match exchange between Ramos and Messi has since attracted widespread attention from football fans, who praised the display of sportsmanship between two players whose rivalry has defined an era of the game.