Donald Trump joins Spain World Cup trophy lift in unbelievable scenes
The World Cup has gone to Spain and it was Donald Trump who got to personally hand the trophy over to the winning team, then he wouldn't walk away.
In the end it wasn't a classic World Cup final, as Spain were by far the better team as they had all of the shot and Argentina barely mustered an attacking threat for the entire game.
Nevertheless, it took a late goal in extra time for Spain to finally defeat a toothless Argentina side 1-0, meaning they get their hands on the trophy for the first time since 2010.
Trump handed over the trophy, a breach of protocol as it's typically handed over by the FIFA president, though it's not the first time the head of state of the host nation has done the honours.
Advert
However, in recent World Cups it's been Gianni Infantino and Sepp Blatter who've handed over the trophy so this is a departure from the norm for Trump to be doing it, in the end Trump and Infantino handed over the trophy together, then Donald milled around awkwardly while the Spanish players hoisted the trophy.
Trump made no bones about his support for Argentina before the final began, having tipped them and Lionel Messi to win the game.
When asked about his prediction for the final he told Fox: “Well I knew you were going to ask… I hate to get involved, even though politically it doesn’t matter so much, the head of Argentina is a friend of mine he’s done a terrific job but I would say it’s hard to bet against Messi.
"I watched that pass… it was exactly perfect although it takes some talent to hit the ball off the head coming at that speed… I won’t pick sides I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi."
But betting against Messi would have been the right decision as his team took 117 minutes on the pitch to actually have a shot, so little a threat to Spain they were.
Instead they relied on Spain shooting directly at goalkeeper Emi Martinez, and for some heroics between the sticks from their man, but even he couldn't keep them out forever.
Who is allowed to touch the World Cup trophy?
It's the most coveted trophy in football and very few people are actually allowed to touch the cup itself, with even on the winning team having strict rules.
In fact, outside of FIFA officials who are responsible for looking after it, barely anyone is permitted to lay hands on it.
Even the team who actually win the match aren't allowed to spend that much time with it after they win.
The victors are allowed to celebrate with the trophy on the pitch, with the captain of the team being handed the trophy.
They are then allowed to take it back to their dressing room where they can celebrate further, but this is where the winning team's contact with the main trophy itself comes to an end.
According to FIFA only their officials, past winners and heads of state are allowed to touch the trophy.
Topics: World Cup, Football, Sport, Donald Trump
Joe Harker