It got heated: Jude Bellingham slapped Valentín Barco on the back of the neck

The semifinal between Argentina and England did not end with the whistle of referee Ismail Elfath. While the Argentine players celebrated the comeback that secured their place in the final of the 2026 World Cup, an altercation occurred involving Jude Bellingham.

According to the footage released after the match, the English midfielder approached Valentín "Colo" Barco and struck him with an open hand on the back of the neck. The Argentine defender reacted immediately, although the situation was quickly contained by his teammates.

According to the information released, the conflict originated after some Argentine players approached to greet the Real Madrid player cordially once the match was over.

While part of the team continued celebrating the qualification near the English player, Bellingham reportedly interpreted some behavior as provocation and reacted against Barco, creating a moment of tension on the pitch of the Atlanta stadium.

The first to intervene was Nicolás Paz, who stepped in between the two players to calm the situation and prevent a larger confrontation.

Moments later, Nicolás Otamendi also arrived, reprimanding the English midfielder's behavior and ordering his teammates to move away from the area to defuse the conflict.