16 Jul 2026 11:13 BST |
4 min read
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Lionel Messi has hit back at claims suggesting that FIFA have favoured Argentina during the 2026 World Cup following their 2-1 semi-final win over England on Wednesday.
Goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez secured Argentina’s place in the World Cup final for the third time in the last four tournaments, and they will look to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend their crown.
Anthony Gordon had opened the scoring for England in the 55th minute, but Argentina roared back during the latter stages of the second-half and they eventually saw their pressure rewarded with two late goals to book their place in Sunday’s showpiece final in New Jersey.
However, Argentina’s route to the final hasn’t been without controversy and drama. They required extra-time to beat Cape Verde in the round of 32, while their subsequent wins over Egypt and Switzerland were marred by several VAR decisions.
Egypt lodged an official complaint about the refereeing calls made during their 3-2 loss, with Hossam Hassan’s side seeing a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up and several penalty shouts waved away. Meanwhile, Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow card in the quarter-final after a new rule allowed VAR to intervene after he dived to win a free-kick.
Conspiracy theorists have argued that FIFA have deliberately favoured Argentina in order to ensure Messi remains in the competition, and the appointment of an MLS referee for the semi-final was another example used to convey this accusation. However, Messi has vehemently disagreed with any suggestions that Argentina have benefitted from decisions through the World Cup.
What has Lionel Messi said?
When asked about Argentina’s win over England and the accusation that his side have received favourable decisions from FIFA throughout the tournament, Messi said: “Let people keep enjoying it.
“What this group has achieved is incredible – another final, we’ve come back to be world champions, we’re the best in the world after these four years, whether people like it or not, and no matter what they say.
“This proves that what we did wasn’t by chance and that nobody gave us anything. Reaching two World Cup finals is something few achieve, and this group did it.
“This group doesn’t surprise me. I know and we knew what we were capable of. People out there had doubts, but when this group comes together and is united, it finds what it doesn’t have to give its all.”
Messi added: “We are proud and happy to be able to give this to the people, we know that the World Cups are special for us.
“We forget all the bad things we have to go through, there are people who have a hard time, who don’t have a job, who don’t make ends meet, it’s our life, what we’ve always had to deal with, it’s beautiful to be able to give this joy to them.
“We Argentinians always demand more. If we had lost to England today, there would have been people saying stupid things, and we didn’t give them the chance… we knew that we were better than them at football, but it’s still special because of everything it means.”
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