Cristian Romero, Argentina’s rugged center-back and one of the tournament’s most important defenders, was forced off the pitch during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final on July 19, 2026. The Tottenham Hotspur star had been battling knee problems throughout the tournament, and his body finally said “enough” on the biggest stage imaginable.
What happened on the pitch
Romero’s exit from the World Cup Final caps a turbulent tournament for the defender. Back on June 24, 2026, he suffered a right knee scare during Argentina’s group stage match against Austria. An MRI scan at the time cleared him of major structural damage, and he played through the knockout rounds.
Romero missed the final six Premier League matches of the 2025-26 season due to knee problems before the World Cup even started. Argentina, defending the title they won in Qatar in 2022, lost one of their most important players during the match that mattered most.
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