Jude Bellingham made a controversial gesture after England lost 1-2 to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals.
Right after the final whistle at Atlanta Stadium in the early morning of July 16, the atmosphere turned tense as players from both teams got into a scuffle. While the Argentine players headed toward the stands to celebrate with the fans after securing a spot in the final, Bellingham unexpectedly approached the opposing group of players.
According to images circulating on social media, the England star wearing the number 10 shirt slapped the back of the head of Valentin Barco, a player who did not feature in the match but was on the pitch to celebrate with his teammates. Bellingham’s action immediately drew reactions from several Argentine players, sparking an altercation right on the pitch.
Prior to that, throughout the match, Bellingham was reportedly a constant target of taunting and provocation from Argentine players. Even so, the action of the midfielder born in 2003 still drew mixed opinions after the match ended.
Besides the incident involving Bellingham and Barco, several other players were also involved in altercations. Lautaro Martinez and Morgan Rogers engaged in a pushing match after the final whistle before teammates and coaching staff intervened, quickly bringing the situation under control.
The 2-1 victory over England helps Argentina feature in the World Cup final for the second consecutive time. The South American representative will face Spain in the championship match taking place on July 20.
