Giuliano Simeone unexpectedly stopped to adjust his socks right before Ferran Torres scored the opening goal for Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on July 20.
A situation in the final between Spain and Argentina is sparking debate on social media. The shared video clip shows Giuliano Simeone standing right behind Ferran Torres as the European side launched an attack on the right flank.
Instead of continuing to track his opponent, the Argentine player unexpectedly stopped and bent down to pull up his socks. Torres consequently broke free from coverage, moving into space before scoring to put Spain ahead 1-0.
Simeone’s moment quickly became the center of discussion. Many fans argued that a player stopping defense in the middle of a dangerous play is baffling, especially when he was standing near the person who subsequently scored directly. The account SantinoCripto, which reposted the video clip, even made allegations that the match took place “according to a script”. This individual cited Simeone’s situation along with the fact that Argentina failed to register a single shot on target to question the final.
However, a short video clip is not enough to prove that the Argentine player intentionally abandoned defense, let alone serve as a basis to conclude that the match was fixed. Simeone’s action could stem from an issue with his kit or a loss of concentration at a decisive moment.
Whatever the reason, that mistake still carried a heavy price. Simeone was in a position to track Torres closely, but a few seconds of stopping cost Argentina a defender in the danger zone, allowing the Spanish striker to score the decisive goal of the final.
