Messi defends Argentina’s World Cup journey amid criticism

By Rohan Gupta — 18 July 2026 — 5 min read

Lionel Messi has responded to critics regarding Argentina’s journey to the FIFA World Cup final, asserting that the defending champions have earned their position through performance, not through favourable officiating or external influence. Argentina secured a place in the final, where they are scheduled to face Spain, after a semi-final victory against England.

The win against England sparked celebrations in Buenos Aires, with many fans gathering in the streets as Argentina moved closer to potentially winning consecutive World Cups. This victory marked another comeback for Lionel Scaloni’s team in a tournament where they have consistently found ways to recover in matches. Argentina had previously overcome Switzerland in extra time, and also recovered from a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt.

Reactions to Argentina’s progress

Despite their success, these victories have drawn criticism. Coaches from Switzerland and Egypt questioned refereeing decisions following their defeats. The coach of Egypt, Hossam Hassan, suggested that his team was disadvantaged by a football establishment that favoured Messi and Argentina.

These complaints have been amplified by some fans who argue that the World Cup bracket benefited Argentina. Unsubstantiated claims have also circulated on social media, suggesting that FIFA desired the defending champions to retain the title. Messi, however, dismissed these suggestions after the win against England.

“We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,” Messi stated after the match. He added, “Once again, we’ve established ourselves among the top two teams in the world. That proves that everything we’ve done is no fluke and that nothing was handed to us.”

Previously, Argentina had largely refrained from addressing favouritism allegations. Coach Lionel Scaloni had advised journalists to avoid excessive social media consumption when questioned about the issue in earlier press conferences. However, after reaching another World Cup final, the reigning champions chose to respond.

“Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve, and this group did it,” Messi commented. “If we had lost to England, there would have been people coming out to spout some nonsense, but we didn’t give them the chance.”

The semi-final against England also reignited a long-standing football rivalry, influenced by both the sport and the historical dispute over the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina. The British government urged FIFA to investigate Argentina after players celebrated the win by posing with a banner that read, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” meaning “The Malvinas are Argentine.”

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez indicated that his celebration after scoring Argentina’s equaliser was a message to the team’s critics. The Chelsea player made a gesture, widely interpreted in football as telling critics to continue talking, by cupping his hands to his ears and then repeatedly opening and closing his fingers. Fernandez explained, “There was a lot of talk; it was a mix of euphoria and frustration.”

Online petition and ongoing debate

More than 10 million people have reportedly signed an online petition calling for Argentina’s expulsion from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This petition cites allegations of refereeing bias and FIFA favouritism. The claims include systematic refereeing bias, favourable officiating, and suggestions that FIFA is making efforts to ensure Messi and the defending champions continue their successful run.

Akhil Ratra, a Football Content Creator, described the petition as an overreaction but acknowledged the underlying frustration. He noted that discussions about controversial refereeing decisions involving Argentina have been present in previous tournaments, not just the current one. Ratra suggested that when supporters consistently perceive similar incidents being judged differently, they naturally question the consistency of standards. While he believes expelling Argentina is unrealistic, he cautioned against dismissing the concerns of millions of fans.

For some, the petition represents an act of protest, while for others, it exemplifies how social media amplifies outrage. Aashish Pandey, a Football Enthusiast and Content Creator, believes the allegations are driven more by perception than concrete proof. He explained that major teams and star players inevitably face increased scrutiny, leading to every contentious decision being magnified. Pandey, a supporter of Cristiano Ronaldo, acknowledged occasionally questioning decisions involving Argentina but stressed that disappointment after a defeat should not be mistaken for evidence of systemic bias.

Pandey stated, “Feeling robbed isn’t proof,” and highlighted that refereeing and VAR decisions are often made under significant pressure. He added, “I haven’t seen real proof of pattern here, just normal chaos of referees and VAR under huge pressure.”

Supporters of the campaign also point to controversial penalty decisions, disputed VAR interventions, and refereeing calls they believe favoured Argentina in crucial matches. Others suggest that Messi’s global appeal made a perfect World Cup ending too appealing for football’s governing bodies to ignore. Sarthak Bose, a Professional Football Player and Football Content Creator, added that refereeing mistakes are part of football, and without solid proof of bias, many reactions stem from emotions after significant matches.

Hans Gupta, a Football Content Creator and Enthusiast, believes the core issue fueling the online backlash is the perception of inconsistent refereeing. He noted that fans become more sceptical when similar incidents appear to be officiated differently in high-stakes matches. Gupta cited instances where certain challenges received extensive VAR scrutiny while others seemingly went unreviewed, creating an impression of inconsistent standards. He also referenced Argentina’s match against Egypt, where the disallowing of an Egyptian goal after a VAR review and a late challenge in the build-up to Argentina’s winning goal, which many felt went unpunished, intensified public debate.

Despite its online momentum, the petition faces a significant obstacle in FIFA’s regulations. Sarthak Bose clarified that FIFA makes decisions based on its rules and official processes, not on online trends. National teams cannot be removed from the World Cup due to disagreements over refereeing decisions or sporting outcomes. Suspensions are only issued for defined breaches of FIFA statutes, such as government interference, corruption, discrimination, or other violations. The petition, while attracting attention, holds no legal authority over FIFA’s disciplinary processes.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter