Retirement reflections: Slavko Vincic on World Cup final and Messi

A week after the final whistle at MetLife Stadium, Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic announced his retirement, reflecting on his centre‑stage role in the 2026 World Cup final and a memorable on‑field conversation with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. He said the match, where Spain secured a dramatic victory over Argentina, would be the pinnacle of his career.

Vincic said the veteran Referee's decision to retire came after months of contemplation about his performance at the tournament. He highlighted the pressure of the World Cup stage and his desire to end his career on a high note.

By walking away after taking centre stage in the 2026 World Cup final, he closed his officiating career on soccer’s grandest platform. The final offered him the ultimate spotlight for a referee from Slovenia.

Reflecting on Spain’s dramatic victory over Argentina, the Slovenian official addressed the on‑field conversations he had with Lionel Messi during the high‑stakes match. He described the dialogue as part of the intense atmosphere that defined the final.

Messi back at Inter Miami training ten days after World Cup loss

One week after the final whistle at MetLife Stadium, the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS) officially announced Vincic’s retirement, praising his historic assignment. The association quoted, “A week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vincic has officially concluded his historic refereeing career at the very top of the world.”

In an interview with the Slovenian outlet Sport, Vincic admitted that learning of his final assignment initially shocked him. He added that representing Slovenian officiating on the world stage was a profound honour, especially when an entire career culminates in a single match.

The match featured several critical refereeing moments, notably Enzo Fernandez receiving a second yellow card late in the second half after a tackle on Pau Cubarsi. Vincic praised his crew, stating, “We were not the main topic of conversation after the match, which shows that we did our job well overall.”

Vincic bows out at the peak after World Cup final scrutiny

During the game, Marc Cucurella covered his mouth to speak to Messi, prompting the Argentine forward to call out the gesture to officials. When asked about his direct interactions with Messi, Vincic kept details confidential but said, “Messi behaved in a completely sportsmanlike manner.”

Vincic’s only previous encounters with Messi occurred in club competitions: a Barcelona‑Inter Milan match in October 2022 after Messi had joined PSG, and a PSG‑AC Milan fixture in October 2023 after Messi moved to Inter Miami. Their World Cup meetings were the 2022 loss to Saudi Arabia and the 2026 final, both defeats for Lionel Scaloni’s side.