Jude Bellingham clashed with Argentina stars after England were dumped out of the World Cup in an attritional semi-final.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring shortly after half-time, but Argentina roared back with a customary comeback after a late Enzo Fernandez equaliser and Lautaro Martinez winner.
The match was a cagey, aggressive affair, particularly in a first half which ended with 19 fouls and just three shots.
Bellingham played the duration and impressed, but could not repeat the heroics which sank Norway last time out to deliver England to this stage of the competition.
There were plenty of flashpoints throughout the match, but tempers flared again as a coming-together between Bellingham and Strasbourg defender Valentin Barco reignited tensions.
Video showed Bellingham standing alone at the full-time whistle when a throng of Argentina players began celebrating in a huddle next to him.
đą ÂĄEL ENGANCHĂN DE BELLINGHAM CON LOS JUGADORES DE ARGENTINA TRAS EL FINAL!#NuestroMejorMundial #NuestroMejorMundialAS @jfelixdiaz @as_tv pic.twitter.com/9Y8rlgG2TL
â Diario AS (@diarioas) July 15, 2026
Bellingham then approaches the group and appears to slap Barco on the back of the head, before Exequiel Palacios leaps to the diminutive defenderâs aid.
Barco, 21, played no part in the match. His sole contribution to Argentinaâs World Cup campaign thus far came in a 20-minute cameo off the bench against Jordan in the group stage.
Full time frustration for Jude Bellingham and England at the final whistle đ đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż pic.twitter.com/US08MgOi49
â Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 15, 2026
Plenty more players then got involved in the melee, including Dean Henderson, Ollie Watkins and James Trafford. Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi were also on the scene.
The disagreement seemed to take care of itself fairly promptly, though, as Bellingham was led away by Watkins.
It remains to be seen whether Bellingham will face any penalty from FIFA after he appeared to instigate the fracas.
