The 46-year-old Slovenian official has called time on an illustrious career following the showpiece finale between Spain and Argentina.
Slovenian official Slavko Vincic, who took charge of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on 19 July, has brought the curtain down on his professional career, the Slovenian Football Association (NZS) confirmed on Monday.
“Barely a week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vincic has officially called time on his historic refereeing career at the very pinnacle of the game,” the NZS announced via their official website.
According to the governing body of the Adriatic nation, by overseeing the global showpiece, the 46-year-old “cemented his status as one of the greatest referees in history”.
The association further noted that, to crown his farewell campaign, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) named him the tournament’s standout official for maintaining “the clear and firm disciplinary control that defines elite officiating”.
Vincic was also honoured with the prestigious ‘Giulio Campanati’ award in Italy for his exceptional performances throughout the 2026 World Cup.
A FIFA-listed international referee since 2010, Vincic has been at the heart of numerous high-stakes fixtures. His distinguished CV includes the 2022 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers, as well as the 2024 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. In that same year, the IFFHS ranked him as the second-best referee in world football.