Spain celebrated their 2026 World Cup triumph in style, but Gavi still found time to pay tribute to Lionel Messi after the final.
The Barcelona midfielder became involved in a heated confrontation with Argentina’s Leandro Paredes moments after Spain secured a 1-0 extra-time victory. Players from both teams gathered as tempers briefly flared following the final whistle.
Despite that flashpoint, Gavi showed his admiration for Messi on social media.
The Argentina captain shared an emotional message after the defeat, congratulating Spain while admitting the pain of losing the final would take time to overcome.
Gavi responded in the comments with a heartfelt message, writing: “The number 1 always,” alongside a red heart emoji.
The post underlined the respect the 21-year-old has long held for Messi, who remains one of Barcelona’s greatest-ever players and an idol for many members of Spain’s current generation.
While celebrations continued across the Spain camp, including Marc Cucurella leading chants during the team’s victory party, Gavi’s gesture stood out as a sign of appreciation for one of football’s greatest players after an emotional World Cup final.
