A quick motion graphic in honor of Messi at the World Cup. It always feels like we’re viewing Messi in a crystal ball.

I’ve been seeing a lot of discussion since the World Cup final, and I honestly don’t know what to think anymore.
There are reports and clips circulating claiming that:
Messi was fouled several times during the match without proper punishment.
Some questionable refereeing decisions went against Argentina.
Messi had an incredible tournament but didn’t win the Best Player award.
There was an alleged confrontation between Gavi and Paredes after the match because of comments made about Messi.
Whether you’re Argentine, Spanish, or just a Messi fan, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Do you think Messi and Argentina were treated unfairly in the final, or do you think people are overreacting because emotions are still high?
Please keep the discussion respectful. I’m genuinely curious to see different opinions.

Hey guys, everywhere on social media I see people talking ill of our GOAT, mainly due to the incident with Cucurella and him (and the rest of the team) turning their backs on Spain after winning the Final. It’s so uncharacteristic of Messi to do this and I’m confused, so I wanted to ask everyone’s thoughts on the incident, not necessarily people’s reaction to it because 90% of these people started watching football for the first time in their life this World Cup.

🐐 39~year old LIONEL M8SSI has been unanimously chosen the Best Player of the 2026 FIFA World Cup NOT by FIFA but by these institutions, publications and Football media outlets for the ENTIRE tournament.

🥇IFFHS (Federación Internacional de
Historia y Estadísticas del Fútbol)
🥇AIPS (Asociación Internacional de la Prensa Deportiva)
🥇THE ATHLETIC
🥇FOX SPORTS
🥇SKY SPORTS
🥇USA TODAY
🥇ESPN
🥇WHOSCORED
🥇SOFASCORE FOOTBALL
🥇YAHOO SPORTS
🥇TRANSFERMARKT
🥇365 SCORES
🥇COMPLEXSPORTS /FANALYSIS
🥇BBC SPORT (Phil McNulty, Liz Conway, Gary Rose, John Murray BBC Sport journalists)

My Top 5 were..

1. 2nd Assist vs England
   
2. 2nd Goal vs Austria
   
3. Goal vs Cape Verde
   
4. Goal vs Egypt
   
5. 3rd Goal vs Algeria

Te amo Leo. 💙❤️

Thank you for everything you've brought to the game and to our hearts. Greatest of all time. You've won it all my king.

Journalists and political/social researchers need to study the affect propaganda has when spread on social media using this World Cup as a case study. There is something going on with the amount of people who think it was rigged for Argentina and Messi’s public image taking a complete 180. There’s even credible rumors (journalists are apparently looking into this) right now that influencers were paid (by who?) to spread misinformation about Argentina/Messi/Fifa. I don’t even like Argentina that much (play style and dirtiness) but was rooting for them because of Messi with my team out (Italy). It’s okay obviously if you weren’t rooting for Argentina but it’s actually alarming how much complete bullshit has spread on social media about this WC. If over the span of three weeks, propaganda was able to spread like this about a sport and create such a big narrative hive mind, the effect it has on issues that actually matter is concerning…

Messi turned 39 recently and he played beautifully at the World Cup, scoring 8 goals and making assists left and right. I reckon be has at least one more year at this level, so why not get him back to Barcelona or another European club so he can play at the highest level while he still can? I have no idea how he feels about it or if he's made statements about the topic in the past since I hadn't followed football for years before this World Cup. Is it a possibility?

Probably the last time seeing him in La Albiceleste♥️

What a player, what a man.🇦🇷🐐

From mesmerizing the world in a Barcelona shirt to leading Argentina with unmatched passion, Messi inspired an entire generation. He showed that when you're relentless, fearless and unwavering in your pursuit of greatness, no obstacle is too big to overcome.

Legends aren't remembered only for the trophies they lift, but for the millions they inspire.

Thank you for every magical moment Leo.

Forever my G.O.A.T. ♥️🤍💙

(I was really heartbroken after the final , I was so sad that I felt expressing myself through words would be the best to conjure up my feelings. So I wrote a heartfelt letter to my idol Leo )

When you ride through the highs, you have to ride through the lows too.

This hurts. Just like 2014 hurt. Just like 2016 hurt. But somehow, the joy you gave us in 2021, 2022, and 2024 makes those painful memories a little easier to carry.

Thank you, Leo.

Thank you for making me fall in love with football. Thank you for making me fall in love with Barça.

If this was the last time I ever saw you wearing the Albiceleste jersey, donning the number 10, then all I can say is that I cherished every moment of it.

More than the loss itself, it hurts my soul the most is knowing that I may never get to watch the man I have loved, admired, and rooted for since 2014 play for Argentina again. You just won't be there anymore.

And somehow, that makes me realize that my childhood is over.

All those years, all those matches, all those nights of waiting to watch you play for Barça , they're slowly becoming memories now. And that hurts more than words can express.

You inspired an entire generation of kids like me.

I grew up watching you. I celebrated with you. I cried with you. Your defeats broke my heart, and your victories gave me memories I will carry for the rest of my life.

There will never be another Lionel Messi.

I'm just grateful that, out of all the eras I could have been born into, I was born at exactly the right time to witness you.

Not through old highlights.

Not through stories.

I got to watch you live.

I got to watch my idol.

And if this really is goodbye, thank you for making my childhood so special.

Te amo, Lionel Messi.

Te amo.

Gracias por todo, Leo.

How's my edit guys, do tell me!

ig: @footballwithmady

People keep telling me I look like Messi. How accurate do you think that is?"

I didn't really think that Messi would play the wc , let alone playing a huge part in argentina wc campaign

But the fact that at 39 years of age Messi is still scoring goals at the big stage and got himself into best 11 of the tournament proves why he is often considered as the 🐐

Forever grateful to messi !!!

I’d give literally anything to see Messi take his “Last Dance.” I honestly feel like he could do it. Imagine if Messi even went retro for his last appearance as well ~ shaving his beard and growing his hair out. I just genuinely want to see The Legend known as Lionel Messi go out with a bang and win a 2nd World Cup trophy before internationally retiring.

I hate how this World Cup has been consumed by hate surrounding Messi and the Argentina National Team. The hate doesn't even feel organic, it feels more like hopping on the bandwagon or potentially even bribes.

For example, my friend who doesn't even watch Football is saying how "MESSi Is SHoRt RiGGer DwaRf" or how "ArGeNtIna RiGs".

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics named Messi the Player of the tournament.

Argentina has been criticized for supposedly not looking at the winners during the trophy celebration even though the players were clearly thanking their own fans.

Someone posted a video showing that France's national team in 2022 didn't even stay on the pitch while Argentina celebrated lifting the trophy nor did Croatia. The post was gaining huge traction and the comments were full of people pointing out the apparent double standard.

Before it could gain even more attention the mods nuked it.

What's even more ironic is that Argentina are the only finalists in the last four World Cup finals to stay on the pitch and watch the winners celebrate, both in 2014 and 2026. If that isn't feeding a one sided narrative idk what is.

You deserve better king.💔

I really wish Messi would've chosen to join Spain national football team when he had the chance. The level of carry job this guy has done with a team like this has made him so underrated (see the difference there is between player rating and team rating for all nations: Messi is at top here as well for all his career).
Cristiiano would be miles cleared away from debate only if Messi was only a bit selfish enough to join Xavi and Iniesta in Spain; with the overall levels this team has had in last 2 decades, Messi would surely have some back to back WCs, Euros, and this friendly UNLs fs (if not back to back, then surely multiple ones of them, without the humiliation Messi went through for a decade from 2010-2020).

This is because almost every time Messi failed to perform, Argentina couldn't win, especially against big teams. For any normal professional footballer, not being able to perform for a few number of games is considered normal, given other players cover up for that loss. Messi had literally no one to rely on in this team somehow. Yeah, there were great players in team like Di Maria, Aguero, etc, but without Messi even they couldn't compensate against big teams when it mattered the most. It was simply because the team which Argentina would be competing against were having a better individually balanced performance, or they just had a lot of good luck to be won against, horrifically paving way for 4 straight final losses. And the thing here is that Messi played a major pivotal role in even bringing Argentina to these 4 finals in first place, but that one final game he needed someone to rely on everytime, there was no one. It was only in 2021 that I actually noticed a team Messi relying on for first time, eventually leading to 4 victories in row.
But somehow, suddenly it all returned to pre-2021 state in this 2026 WC Final... Messi carried the team to Finals once again, but then in Final, it rather felt more like a deliberate downplay by whole team than actual performance fatigue; well who knows what was the actual reason for all of it going as low as 0 shots on target and goal for Argentina against Spain, when everything was still kind of good with entire team while playing against England.

Anyways, it's quite clear that when Messi eventually retires, the state of Argentina national football team won't be any different to how FC Barcelona was for 1-2 years after 2021 exit. So I hope he plays as long as he can.

It seems like in every 20-25 years, Argentina produces a never-seen-before kind of star players.

First, it was Alfredo Di Stefano whose prime was between 1953 to 1964. A good 7-8 years in between.

Second, it was Diego Maradona! A much much better improvement than Stefano in every scales. He dominated the better part of the 80’s football.

Third, just when it seemed like there will be no better player than Maradona, Lionel Messi emerged out of nowhere around 2005-06. And I guess I don’t have to explain the rest.

An honourable mention:
Ariel Ortega: primed between 1998 and 2002. Wasn’t as hyped as Maradona or Messi in their teens but many thought they found the next Maradona or the first Ortega. But drugs, alcohol and lack of discipline ruined him!

So, if you follow the pattern, you can see that 20-25 years, A global superstar is always produced by Argentina. So, my question is who do you think will be the next Messi or someone to be his closest with a capability of winning 5-6 ballon D or at least? Is that player somewhere in the pipeline or maybe just a kid of 12-14 years old?

Remember, Barcelona insiders knew that they found the once-in-a-lifetime talent when Messi was just 12-13 years old. But they kept this as a secret from the rest of the world.