He says team’s ability to overturn late-game deficits is result of championship pedigree.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi gestures to the fans at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: “Nothing was handed to us. ”champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favoritism by the soccer establishment. He said the team’s ability to overturn late-game deficits, most recently the semifinal victory over England, is the result of championship pedigree and nothing more. , and marked another remarkable comeback that showed the perseverance of a team that is now one win from a back-to-back titles.
Argentina faces Spain in Sunday’s final.after coming back from being down 2-0 with 11 minutes of regulation time to play. But both the Swiss and Egyptian coaches criticized the refereeing. Egypt’s Hossam Hassan went as far as to say that his team was The comments fueled criticism sparked by fans who argue that the FIFA bracket favored La Albiceleste, and unfounded allegations on social media claiming that the soccer governing body wants Argentina to once again become World Cup champion.
“We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says,” Messi said after the win over England. “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. ” The game against Switzerland swung on a call that riled up those who believe Argentina has been favored by World Cup officials.
The Swiss had just tied the game at 1-1 on Dan Ndoye’s goal in the 67th minute when Leandro Paredes was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Breel Embolo. But video showed the Swiss player falling before the Argentina midfielder made contact with him, and since Embolo received a yellow card earlier in the match,“We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable,” Swiss coach Murat Yakin said after the game.
“It’s very painful that we were eliminated that way. I don’t think we deserve that today, and in my opinion, my boys are the real heroes. ” Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association had said it “cannot remain silent” after what it believed was unfair and biased officiating in Egypt’s loss against Argentina. Argentina’s team had not acknowledged the complaints on officiating and FIFA.
In previous press conferences, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni had even advised journalists asking about the matter “not to consume so much social media. ”“Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve, and this group did it,” Messi said.
“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. ” Wednesday’s semifinal was the latest chapter in a long-running feud that has transcended the field to encompass British control over theto investigate Argentina’s team after players celebrating their victory over England posed with a banner handed over by fans, reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.
” Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez gestures to fans after scoring his side’s first goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Enzo Fernandez acknowledged that his goal celebration, which leveled the score at 1-1, was aimed at Argentina’s critics. The Chelsea midfielder first cupped his hands to his ears, a gesture interpreted in soccer as a challenge to critics.
Then, he opened and closed his fingers, as if inviting them to keep talking. Scaloni, for his part, stated in the post-semifinal press conference that “this talk of ‘help’ will always exist; it doesn’t bother me. ” “With VAR today, it’s very difficult to get help; it would have to be glaringly obvious. We knew there was no help. ”
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