World Cup final ends on sour note as Leandro Paredes sparks fracas after altercation with Eric García

Distasteful scenes have broken out on the pitch in the immediate aftermath of Spain’s historic victory over Argentina in the World Cup final.

The European champions became world champions after Ferran Torres broke the 0-0 deadlock with a 106th-minute extra-time winner, crushing football legend Lionel Messi’s hopes of claiming back-to-back World Cups.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Ugly fight breaks out after Spain’s World Cup win

But the joy and elation of Spain’s first World Cup victory since 2010 was somewhat soured by a physical altercation between players and officials from both sides after the final whistle.

Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes exchanged words with Spain defender Eric García before forcefully pushing him the neck as staff from both teams and substitute players ran in to try to break up the dispute.

A Spanish substitute went straight for Paredes, who by that stage was seeing red and lashed out again, shoving him to the ground twice in what became ugly scenes.

That drew several more players in to the altercation and sparked spotfires everywhere.

Former Germany and Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng was disappointed in the post-match fracas.

“To see these scenes after the game, that’s sore losing. That’s not what Leo Messi deserves,” he told SBS.

England great Alan Shearer was even more critical.

“Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone’s face. He went for them,” he told BBC.

“There is no place or space for that. We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose.

“Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible.”

Spain were absolutely dominant in terms of possession and shot attempts in Monday morning’s (AEST) title decider at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Messi and Argentina found a way to hang on and force extra time — but barely. And in the opening moment of the second 15-minute period of extra time, Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after getting his second yellow card, meaning Argentina was forced to finish the match with only 10 players. 

Fernandez was carded for a reckless play that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air, and the card came out immediately.

Another foul about two minutes after play resumed gave Lamine Yamal a chance to win it from about 22 yards out on a free kick. Yamal’s strike was curling toward the right post, and Martinez dived to knock it away for his 10th save of the afternoon — the most ever in a World Cup final.

He leaped to his feet, punching the air and imploring the crowd to get loud. Not long after that came the whistle, sending the game to extra time.

Spain took 15 shots in regulation, Argentina none. Spain took nine corners, Argentina one. And somehow, 90-plus minutes of that sort of dominance wasn’t enough.

With their victory, Spain became the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in both men’s and women’s football.

With AAP