When Spain lifted the trophy, only one Argentine player didn't turn his back. The 25-year-old striker was praised: his grace surpassed the entire team.

At the award ceremony of the just-concluded World Cup final, the full Argentine team collectively turned their backs to the stage when Spain received the trophy, a move that was heavily condemned as lacking respect. Yet, there was one Argentine player who stood apart.

José López, who plays for Brazil's Palmeiras, insisted on facing the Spanish team during the ceremony and watched the trophy presentation with a respectful gaze. With his hands behind his back and without clapping, he offered a quiet acknowledgment as the most basic form of courtesy from an opponent.

Although José López, a Palmeiras player in Brazil, is not a well-known name in the Argentine squad and is only a fringe international, he alone upheld the basic standards of sportsmanship during the ceremony.

For this, he received widespread acclaim on social media. Spanish outlet Marca stated: "José López receives many congratulations for not turning his back on Spain!" Olé Brazil called him "the only Argentine who showed maturity and respect for sports."

Netizens praised him: "Facing failure with head held high—that's a truly respectable person!" "His sportsmanship alone surpasses that of the entire Argentine team!" "He is the only Argentine player who respects football and doesn't want his country to become a laughingstock." "José López showed more grace by himself than the whole team!"

The 25-year-old José López played only 18 minutes in this World Cup. He came on as a substitute in the quarterfinal against Switzerland and provided a crucial assist.

This 1.88-meter-tall center forward is currently valued at €25 million on the German Transfermarkt. He has already attracted interest from several European clubs and is expected to move to a European league this summer to further his career.