President Donald Trump was present at MetLife Stadium to award medals and handshakes following the World Cup final, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0. During the ceremony for the runners-up, Argentina's Cristian Romero appeared to skip past Trump on the receiving line.
Romero received his medal from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. After shaking Infantino's hand, Romero proceeded down the line, seemingly bypassing Trump. He also initially appeared to overlook Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who was positioned after Trump, before turning back to shake her hand. This gesture was not replicated for Trump.
It remains unclear if Romero's actions were a deliberate political statement or an unintentional oversight amidst the emotional conclusion of the championship match. Reports suggest Trump was also turned slightly away as Romero approached, and the player may have simply continued moving. However, he appears to be the only player who did not shake Trump's hand.
Trump also experienced another notable moment shortly after presenting the trophy to the Spanish team. He remained on stage with the players until Infantino returned and guided him off.