Argentinian footballer Cristian Romero appeared to snub President Donald Trump’s handshake at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
During the event’s medal ceremony, which saw FIFA officials award Argentinian players silver runners-up medallions following their loss to Spain 1-0, Romero, 28, was seen walking past the president, 80, who was tasked with handing out medals to players on both teams.
The center-back did, however, shake the hands of FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, and Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who stood either side of Trump.
Footage shared via X after the medal ceremony wrapped on-air clearly depicted Romero briefly glancing at Trump before averting his eyesight and clutching at his medal as he continued on.
The apparent snub comes after the U.S. president was met with loud booing from the crowd just before the highly anticipated final got started. Moments after Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem, Trump was filmed clapping while standing in his section of Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
As the camera revealed Trump’s stance, audible booing was heard. Trump attended the championship with wife, Melania Trump, and watched the game with Infantino, 56.
A string of high-profile celebrities came out to watch the 2026 World Cup final, including Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Javier Bardem, Matt Damon and wife, Luciana Barroso, Blake Lively, Tom Brady, Alix Earle and David and Victoria Beckham.
The Beckhams were joined by Tom Cruise, who gave a speech to the crowd prior to kick-off. Performances by Madonna and Justin Bieber added further star appeal during the event’s halftime musical line-up.
In a pre-game press conference, football legend Lionel Messi addressed Argentina’s hopes of securing another victory over Spain.
“We will give it our all,” Messi, 39, said before acknowledging that he once gave 19-year-old Spanish athlete Lamine Yamal a bath in a now-viral photoshoot almost two decades earlier. “Looking at that photo is crazy. Well, that’s life, right? I took a photo with him when he was a baby, and now here we are facing each other in a World Cup. Lamine is an amazing player, someone whom I follow closely because he plays for a club I love.”
The departing athlete was seen crying with a silver medal slung around his neck after the game.
While Messi has not made a formal announcement regarding retirement, the future of his football career is widely speculated to be winding down with many outlets reporting that the 2026 World Cup was his last.
