Messi Denounces Allegations of Favoritism as Argentina Rolls to Final Victory

Lionel Messi addressed his country’s detractors with the line: “Nothing was handed to us.”

The Argentine superstar responded to a wave of criticism surrounding the World Cup champions, emphasizing that the team’s triumphs are the product of hard work, experience, and championship pedigree rather than any preferential treatment.

With a 1‑0 deficit entering the 85th minute, Argentina rallied to win 2‑1 over England in the semifinal and secure a berth in the final.

The victory erupted in jubilant celebrations as thousands flooded the streets of Buenos Aires, marking another spectacular comeback that underscores the squad’s resilience on the eve of a potential back‑to‑back title.

Earlier in the tournament, the Albiceleste survived notable challenges, drawing with Cape Verde and Switzerland after extra time, before pulling off a 3‑2 win against Egypt after a dramatic resurgence from 2‑0 down with only 11 minutes remaining.

However, the Swiss and Egyptian coaches voiced concerns about refereeing decisions, with Egypt’s Hossam Hassan suggesting that Argentina benefited from biased officiating.

The debate intensified amid claims that the World Cup bracket favored the Albiceleste and unfounded social‑media allegations that the governing body sought to engineer another Argentine triumph.

“We have proven ourselves over the past four years, whether people accept it or not,” Messi said following the win. “Our place among the world’s top two teams demonstrates that everything we have done is earned, not granted.”

The encounter with Switzerland hinged on a controversial yellow card awarded to Leandro Paredes for a tackle on Breel Embolo. Video footage revealed Embolo had already fallen before contact, yet the sanction prompted Embolo’s dismissal, leaving Switzerland to contest the remainder of the match with ten players.

Swiss coach Murat Yakin described the decision as “unacceptable” and lamented the loss of a deserved place in the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association declared that it “cannot remain silent” regarding what it perceived as unfair and biased officiating in the loss to Argentina.

Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni refrained from commenting on the officiating controversy, advising media coverage to “not consume so much social media.”

After securing the win over England, Messi reflected on the significance of reaching a second consecutive World Cup final: “This group achieved something few have accomplished.”

Enzo Fernández acknowledged that his goal‑celebration, which equalized the score at 1‑1, was directed at critics, combining a “listen” gesture with an open‑hand sign to invite continued dialogue.

“There was a lot of talk Guess? It’s a blend of euphoria and frustration,” Fernández said.

Scaloni added, “Discussions about ‘help’ will always persist; they વાંચ spite us. With VAR today, it has to be glaringly obvious to obtain such assistance.”

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