Messi Defends Argentina Amid Claims of FIFA Favoritism After Reaching World Cup Final
Lionel Messi defended the Argentina national team against critics following their advance to the World Cup Final, amidst various allegations of favoritism by FIFA during the tournament.
After the match against England, the renowned No. 10, who spearheaded a remarkable comeback, stated:
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“It hurts whoever it hurts, and let them say whatever they want — we proved once again on the pitch that nobody gives us anything.”
“We came in under fire, with a lot of doubts around us, but I knew this group always competes. I was sure we were going to be among the final four and, thank God, we made it into the top two.”
In addition, Messi emphasized that defeating England was crucial for him, especially in light of the historical significance of the match for Argentina.
“If we had lost to England, people would’ve come out and said some nonsense about us, but we didn’t give them the chance. We were lucky enough to win, to get through this, with everything this match means.”
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“We knew that football-wise we were better than them, but a lot is at stake when you play a match of this magnitude, when historical factors come into play. Still, it doesn’t stop being special because of everything it means, and we had to win it,” he told TyC Sports.