They reveal the secret conversation between Slavko Vincic and Lionel Messi after the controversial World Cup final between Argentina and Spain

The world of soccer is still digesting the outcome of the thrilling final of the 2026 World Cup between the Argentina National Team and Spain. However, the spotlight has once again fallen on Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who shook the sports world by announcing his definitive retirement from officiating just one week after refereeing the most momentous match of his career.

In statements made after his retirement and reported by the Argentine outlet TN (Todo Noticias), the 46-year-old referee confessed the whirlwind of emotions he experienced when FIFA's refereeing committee notified him of the responsibility of administering justice in the most important match on the planet of football.

As the referee himself revealed, the initial impact of receiving the call from the top officials was overwhelming before turning into a deep professional pride.

The confession about Lionel Messi

One of the moments with the greatest impact during the decisive clash focused on the constant verbal exchanges that Vincic maintained with the Albiceleste captain, Lionel Messi. When asked about the details of that conversation right on the field of play, the Slovenian referee preferred to keep it private, although he did not hesitate to praise the attitude of the Rosario-born star.

"I'll leave that conversation on the pitch, but I can say that Messi behaved in a sportsmanlike manner," Vincic said when referring to the face-to-face exchange with the South American star, denying any friction or major conflicts during the match.

The acid test in refereeing

The European referee, whose performance included significant decisions such as the sending off of Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández, emphasized that the best confirmation of an impeccable performance is not being in the news after the final whistle. Reports from international agencies such as Reuters highlight that, unlike other matches with refereeing controversies, the grand final unfolded without disputes over the referee's performance.

"I think our refereeing strategy was the right one; the fact that we were not a topic of conversation after the match is the greatest satisfaction," emphasized the referee, attributing the credit not only to his personal work but also to the coordinated effort with his assistants Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič.

A meticulous pre-match preparation

When explaining the strategy prior to the clash between the Albiceleste and La Roja, Vincic detailed that together with his officiating team he devoted multiple days to an exhaustive study of the tactical and behavioral conduct of the players from both national teams.

"We study the characteristics of footballers, how they react during stoppages and what type of game they develop, although it is impossible to prepare absolutely everything because each match has its own story," the referee explained about the rigorous analytical preparation.

A strong endorsement of the use of VAR

The Slovenian also took the opportunity to address the criticism of the technology and firmly defend the implementation of video refereeing (VAR) in competitions organized by FIFA and UEFA.

"With the speed of today's football, it's impossible to see everything; I can't imagine refereeing a final without the help of technology; at least 90 percent of things have been positive since VAR was introduced," he stated categorically.

Click here to read article