Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:54am on 16 Jul 2026,Thursday Sports
Lionel Messi dismissed allegations that FIFA has favoured Argentina during the 2026 World Cup, insisting the reigning champions have earned their success through consistent performances. Responding to criticism over controversial refereeing and VAR decisions, Messi said Argentina’s second successive World Cup final proves their achievements are “not by chance” and that “nobody gave us anything.” The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner argued his side has been “the best for the last four years” regardless of outside opinions. Messi added that critics would have questioned Argentina regardless of the result against England. He also dedicated the semi-final victory to Diego Maradona, calling it a special tribute to the Argentine legend. (PC: Getty)
