Enzo Fernández sent off in World Cup Final with brutal tackle on Pau Cubarsi

Enzo Fernández dismissed in World Cup Final after reckless tackle

Enzo Fernández was sent off in the World Cup Final on 15 July after a brutal late tackle on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi. The Chelsea midfielder received a second yellow card for the challenge, leaving Argentina with 10 men for the final 30 minutes of extra time.

What happened in the final minutes?

Argentina’s midfielder had already been booked earlier in the match for simulation. But with the score level at 0-0 deep into stoppage time, Fernández charged into a challenge on Cubarsi, a 19-year-old defender. The tackle launched the teenager airborne before he crashed to the turf. Referee Slavko Vincic immediately brandished a second yellow card, ending Fernández’s night.

VAR declined to intervene, backing the referee’s call. The incident capped a combative final where tempers flared under a charged atmosphere, with U.S. President Donald Trump in attendance. Earlier, Spain had nearly scored when Nico Williams fired a shot saved by Emiliano Martínez.

Why it matters for Enzo Fernández

Fernández becomes the sixth player to be sent off in a World Cup Final. His dismissal forced Argentina to defend with 10 men in extra time, a stretch that ended when Ferran Torres scored for Spain in the 91st minute. The Chelsea man had already been cautioned for simulation, a decision that should have made him cautious.

The red card handed Spain a lifeline. Argentina, the defending champions, managed no shots on goal in regulation. Fernández’s reckless challenge turned a tight final into a one-sided extra period.

What comes next for Argentina?

Argentina now faces a penalty shootout with 10 men after Fernández’s dismissal. The team’s attack stalled late, and the numerical disadvantage loomed large in extra time. Their next fixture is uncertain, but the red card will dominate headlines far more than their lack of clear chances.

Spain, meanwhile, claimed a deserved victory after dominating late. The new FIFA rule allowing red cards for mouth-covering during altercations went unused, though officials had warned players after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried the tactic against Vinícius Júnior in February.