Barely a day after Argentina's World Cup final unravelled into red cards, a brawl and a snubbed trophy ceremony, FIFA president Gianni Infantino chose a very different tone: warmth, not censure.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium, with substitute Ferran Torres scoring the winner in the 106th minute. Argentina had already been reduced to ten men after Enzo Fernández was sent off in the 93rd minute for a reckless challenge on Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí.
The aftermath was ugly. A brawl broke out between players from both sides moments after the final whistle, Leandro Paredes was also shown red following a confrontation with assistant referee Tomaž Klančnik, and Nicolás Otamendi squared up to Spain captain Rodri over complaints about the officiating.
As Spain's players collected their medals and lifted the trophy, Argentina's squad turned their backs on the ceremony, walking to the far side of the pitch while chants of Lionel Messi's name rang out from their own supporters in the stands.
Against that backdrop, Infantino posted a message on Instagram that steered entirely clear of the controversy and instead saluted Argentina's run to the final. "What an exceptional tournament the Argentina national team delivered at the World Cup! An unforgettable comeback and a fighting spirit that inspired millions, and gave football fans around the world timeless moments that will not be erased from memory," he wrote.
He went further, framing the runners-up finish as proof of the team's enduring class: "Reaching the World Cup final once again, after winning the title in 2022, is the best proof of excellence and the sustained high level of Argentine football."
It wasn't the first time in this tournament that Infantino had gone out of his way to praise Messi's side. After Argentina's dramatic semi-final win over England in Atlanta, he had posted a similarly effusive Instagram note calling it "an intense, emotional and incredible" match and praising both sets of fans for the atmosphere.
What Infantino's latest message notably did not do is address the ugly scenes that closed out the final - the red cards, the brawl or the snub of the podium ceremony - leaving open the question of whether FIFA will pursue any disciplinary action over the post-match conduct.
For Argentina, the defeat still means a second consecutive World Cup final appearance, a run bookended by the 2022 title in Qatar and Sunday's loss to a Spain side chasing their second world crown.
