India, July 8 -- Francois Letexier arrived at Argentina vs Egypt with one of the strongest refereeing profiles in world football, but left the Round of 16 carrying one of the tournament's biggest officiating controversies.

The 37-year-old French referee, born in Bedee, Brittany, is among UEFA's highest-rated officials. A legal professional away from football, Letexier became the youngest referee to officiate in Ligue 1 in 2016 and has been on FIFA's international list since 2017. His rise has been rapid and prestigious. He refereed the 2023 UEFA Super Cup between Manchester City and Sevilla, was fourth official for the 2024 Champions League final, and then took charge of the UEFA Euro 2024 final between Spain and England.

Letexier was a...