After a 2-1 victory in the World Cup semi-final, Argentine players held up a banner claiming the Falkland Islands as Argentine, reigniting political tensions. The banner, featuring the slogan 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas', was displayed by players including Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi. The incident is likely to be reported to FIFA, which had banned such political statements.
After a dramatic World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, Georgia, Argentina defeated England 2-1, sparking celebrations that quickly turned political. As the final whistle blew, several Argentine players, including Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, unfurled a banner reading Las Malvinas son Argentina s, which translates to The Falklands are Argentine.
The banner was passed among jubilant teammates and fans, with star player Lionel Messi seen dancing alongside it. The display came amid heightened tensions over the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory located 300 miles off the coast of Argentina. The 1982 Falklands War, which resulted in 907 deaths including 255 British servicemen, remains a deep source of animosity between the two nations.
In a post-match interview, midfielder Leandro Paredes reiterated Argentina's claim to the islands, stating they will always be Argentine. The incident is likely to be reported to FIFA, which had banned flags featuring the Falklands from the stadium due to their political significance. The banner's origin was unclear.
The match itself was a nail-biter: England took the lead in the second half through Anthony Gordon, but a late equalizer from Enzo Fernandez and a stoppage-time header from Lautaro Martinez sealed Argentina's 2-1 victory. England, who had not reached a World Cup final in 60 years, were left heartbroken. Captain Harry Kane and goal scorer Gordon were seen comforting each other after the final whistle. The political backdrop was intense.
Before the match, Argentina's Vice-President Victoria Villarruel branded England as usurping pirates on social media, writing that this match was not just another game. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno claimed the islands' inhabitants had been artificially implanted and rejected a 2013 referendum in which 99.8% of Falklanders voted to remain British. The UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed these claims and urged calm.
The deep-seated rivalry was further inflamed by the legacy of the Falklands War and Maradona's hand of God goal in the 1986 World Cup. After the game, some England fans complained about the conduct of Argentine supporters, with one telling the Daily Mail about being taunted with flags and shirts. The incident underscores how sport and geopolitics can collide, with the banner serving as a stark reminder of unresolved territorial disputes
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