Who is Slavko Vincic? What to know about World Cup final referee

Slavko Vincic martialed an increasingly physical World Cup final that saw Spain likely put the legend of Lionel Messi to bed with a 1-0 victory.

The 46-year-old Slovenian made two major calls in the game: sending Argentina midfielder Enzo Martinez off on a second yellow card and disallowing what appeared to be Spain’s first goal.

Vincic has been a fixture in major European and international matches, earning praise and criticism for his work.

Here’s what you need to know about Slavko Vincic.

Vincic has been on FIFA’s international roster since 2010. He has worked more than 500 professional matches, about 50 of them in the Champions League. He is one of the referees UEFA hands its biggest nights.

This is his second World Cup, following two appearances in 2022. He is the first Slovenian to referee a World Cup final.

He has officiated the 2022 Europa League final, the 2024 Champions League final, where Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley.

The last time Vincic officiated an Argentina match was the 2022 World Cup opener, and it became one of the biggest upsets the sport has ever seen. Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2-1 to end a 36-match unbeaten run. He officiated Spain’s Euro 2024 semifinal victory against France.

The World Cup final brings together two of soccer’s biggest stars as Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal chase the sport’s biggest prize.

See the must‑see photos from the championship match as the tournament reaches its conclusion.

Above, Argentina’s Lionel Messi during the warm up before the match.

The World Cup final brings together two of soccer’s biggest stars as Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal chase the sport’s biggest prize.

See the must‑see photos from the championship match as the tournament reaches its conclusion.

Above, Argentina’s Lionel Messi during the warm up before the match.

Spain’s forward Lamine Yamal warms up ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026.

General view of the tattoo of Argentina‘s Lionel Messi during the warm up before the match.

Spain‘s Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo during the warm up before the match.

Argentina‘s Emiliano Martinez during the warm up before the match.

On May 29, 2020, Vincic got swept up in a police raid in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, that authorities said was aimed at a ring tied to drugs, weapons and sexual exploitation. He was never charged with a crime. He was detained, gave his statement and was let go within hours.

Vincic said he had shown up for a business lunch and knew nothing about the rest.

UEFA and the Slovenian federation stood by him, and he went back to work and refereed the Champions League final.