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Amidst all the drama surrounding the Spain-Argentina match in the 2026 World Cup final, a crucial moment unfolded even before the players stepped onto the field. At the heart of this incident was none other than Lionel Messi himself. The matter is now generating renewed discussion.
Twelve hours after Argentina’s final loss, a video clip circulated on social media, showing Messi saying something to the team’s players in the tunnel before the match began.
That very statement is now sparking discussion. Standing in the tunnel, Messi had told his teammates, “Come on guys, everyone stay calm. The main thing is we need to keep our heads cool.”
However, it is this part of his statement that has generated discussion. He said, “Let’s just focus on the game. Let’s forget everything else.” What had happened in the dressing room or before the game that compelled Messi to tell the Argentine team to ignore everything else and concentrate on this message?
This could be in response to comments made by several Spanish footballers before the match. Multiple Spanish individuals, including Rodri Hernández, had questioned the quality of refereeing and hinted at bias towards Argentina.
Rodri had stated, “It is true that in the last few matches, we have seen several actions go unpunished. Especially in Argentina’s matches, the team leaves many marks, which should not be allowed in football, much less in major tournaments. Because it can shake you up, it can frustrate you.”
It is speculated that Messi told the Argentine team to remain calm in light of these comments. However, Argentina managed to stay calm on the field only slightly. Enzo Fernández received a red card during the match, for which Argentina paid the price by losing 1-0. Afterwards, Gavi also received a red card for assaulting someone after the match.