Eduque Valdano: the world champion in 1986 annihilated Iker Casillas in a football debate

The title dispute in the 2026 World Cup left a landscape with a clear European dominance. After Colombia's elimination against Switzerland in the penalty shootout, Argentina remained the only representative from America among the eight best teams in the tournament.

The quarter-finals were made up of six European teams (France, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, and Switzerland), in addition to Morocco, the only African qualifier, and the team coached by Lionel Scaloni.

During his participation in the program Los Protagonistas on TV Azteca, Iker Casillas analyzed the composition of the quarter-finals and stated that the highest competitive level of the tournament is currently in Europe.

The former goalkeeper of Real Madrid and the Spanish National Team maintained that if Argentina were eliminated, the decisive phase of the World Cup would consist exclusively of European teams, a statement aimed at emphasizing the strength of football from the Old Continent.

Casillas' statements received a quick response from Jorge Valdano, who defended the historical influence of South American football in the development of this sport.

In a relaxed tone, the world champion with Argentina in 1986 recalled several of the greatest legends born in South America, such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi, and joked that there was only room for one European representative on that list of historical figures.

Far from ending there, the exchange continued with new names. Casillas responded by mentioning European icons like Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Andrea Pirlo, Ferenc Puskás, and Francisco Gento, highlighting the enormous contribution of the continent to the development of world football.

Valdano, not losing his humor, replied that South America also has an extensive list of top-level footballers, even beyond its greatest idols.