Ugly scenes marred the closing moments of the World Cup final, as tempers boiled over between Argentina and Spain players on the pitch once the full-time whistle blew.
Players and coaches from both camps got involved in an attempt to defuse everything, with a host of separate incidents taking place over the course of three minutes.
Several individual moments have already drawn scrutiny in the days since, with clips of the chaos spreading rapidly across social media and prompting FIFA to launch an investigation into Argentina’s conduct.
Now, a new angle of a specific incident has emerged online, and it appears to show one of the ugliest moments of the entire meltdown.
Lisandro Martinez's Unceremonious Statement Causes Backlash
Lisandro Martinez after the World Cup finalREUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
In the aftermath, defender Lisandro Martinez posted a message on social media, leading fans to brand him and Argentina “so unlikeable,” before calling them the worst sort of losers in decades:
"With a heavy heart for not having been able to bring home the cup that we all deserved, but with pride bursting at the seams for this jersey, for my teammates, the coaching staff, the executives, the medical team, the cooks, the kit men, and every single person who was involved to make all of this work in the best possible way."
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He continued: "I want to congratulate Spain on their well-deserved title. We defended our colours far beyond the pitch and shared unforgettable moments with the National Team, alongside our families and with the unwavering support of all Argentinians.
“Remember that 'the fall of the great is the joy of the mediocre'.”
"Thank you all so much. Let's take care of our country. I love you, Argentina!"
Lisandro Martinez injuryREUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
The freshly surfaced clip appears to show Martinez himself getting physically involved, with footage suggesting the Manchester United defender 'punched' Spain midfielder Gavi in the face.
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The moment came after Leandro Paredes threw the 20-year-old Barcelona man to the ground, which had already caused enough chaos in itself.
See the incident between Lisandro Martinez and Gavi below:
With the video gaining traction online, scrutiny on Argentina's conduct after the final looks set to intensify further, adding yet another unwanted moment to an already chaotic post-match scene.
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