​Lionel Messi has a direct message for Argentina’s critics: nothing was handed to us. The Argentina superstar pushed back at those who accuse the reigning World Cup champions of benefiting from favorable officiating or biased treatment by football authorities. He emphasized that the team’s ability to overturn late deficits, most notably in the semifinal against England, stems from a championship mindset and nothing more.
In recent days, Portugal’s critics have argued that Argentina’s success is tainted by refereeing decisions or by the influence of the football establishment. Messi, after Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England on Wednesday, asserted that the team’s recent performances demonstrate their staying power among the world’s elite. “We’ve been the best over these past four years, whether you like it or not, and regardless of what anyone says,” he said. “We’ve once again proven that we’re among the top two teams in the world. This isn’t a fluke, and nothing was handed to us.”
The semifinal against England featured an 85th-minute comeback for Argentina, who were trailing 1-0 before rallying to win 2-1 and advance to the World Cup final, where they will face Spain on Sunday. The victory sparked celebrations across Buenos Aires as tens of thousands flooded the streets in elation, underscoring Argentina’s march toward the prospect of back-to-back titles.
Earlier in the tournament, Argentina had needed extra time to defeat Cape Verde and Switzerland, and had staged a dramatic 3-2 comeback against Egypt after trailing 2-0 with 11 minutes left in regulation. These results contributed to discontent voiced by some Swiss and Egyptian officials who criticized refereeing decisions. Hossam Hassan of Egypt even suggested that Messi and Argentina benefited from a soccer establishment inclined toward their cause.
The controversy has fed a broader debate among fans about whether FIFA’s bracket and officiating have favored Argentina. Social media discourse has included unfounded assertions that governing bodies are determined to see Argentina regain the World Cup title. Messi’s remarks after the England win aimed to address these criticisms head-on, reaffirming that Argentina’s success is earned through merit and sustained excellence rather than any hidden advantage.
The match against Switzerland added fuel to the fire for skeptics of officiating. After Switzerland tied the game 1-1 on Dan Ndoye’s 67th-minute strike, Leandro Paredes received a yellow card for a challenge on Breel Embolo. But video replays showed Embolo had already begun to fall before contact was made, and since Embolo had already been booked earlier in the match, he was sent off, leaving Switzerland to defend with 10 men. Swiss coach Murat Yakin lamented the decision, insisting that the ruling was unacceptable and that his team deserved better for their efforts: “We were punished because of a rule I believe is completely unfair. It’s very painful that we were eliminated this way. In my opinion, my players are the real heroes.”
As for Egypt, the chessboard of grievances extended to a general sense that Argentine favoritism permeated the tournament, a narrative that has persisted in some corners of the football world and in social media. Yet Messi’s comments after the England match offered a counter-narrative, stressing that Argentina’s performance over four years has placed them among the world’s elite and that their accomplishments are the result of hard work, leadership, and a relentless commitment to victory.
In sum, Messi’s message to Argentina’s detractors is clear: the team’s success is not the product of luck, bias, or manipulation; it is the culmination of a sustained period of excellence that will now be put to the test in the World Cup final against Spain.