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Lionel Messi’s final World Cup appearance ended in defeat, but the Argentina captain’s actions during the dramatic loss to Spain have become one of the most controversial moments of the tournament.
Messi, who played what is widely expected to be the final World Cup match of his legendary career, was branded “a baby” by former England defender Lee Dixon after appearing to try to get Spain defender Marc Cucurella punished during Sunday’s tense final at MetLife Stadium.
The incident happened late in normal time after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow card and sent off, as his jaw-dropping tackle flipped a Spanish defender in the air. As players surrounded referee Slavko Vincic, Cucurella briefly attempted to speak with Messi while covering his mouth.
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Messi immediately appealed to the referee, appearing to point out Cucurella’s gesture. Under FIFA’s tournament regulations, players can face punishment for communicating with opponents while covering their mouths during confrontational situations, with Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron previously receiving a red card under the rule. However, neither Vincic nor VAR determined that Cucurella’s actions warranted a punishment.
Speaking on ITV, Dixon criticized Messi’s reaction and accused the Argentina star of attempting to influence the referee.
“The game has gone if you’re getting bookings and red cards for that, to get somebody sent off,” Dixon said during the broadcast. “You shouldn’t be such a baby to try and get someone sent off for that, it’s ridiculous.”
Spain eventually secured their second men’s World Cup title after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, sealing a 1-0 victory over a 10-man Argentina side that failed to record a shot during normal time.
The backlash also appeared to impact Messi’s popularity in Britain. According to a YouGov poll cited by the Daily Mail, Messi’s net favorability rating among Britons dropped from +46 before the World Cup to -15 after the tournament.
Fans took to social media to voice their criticism, with one writing, “Lol Messi trying to get Cucurella out... Terrible being," while another simply called him "such a rat" for the attempt.
Argentina’s tournament had already become surrounded by controversy before the final. Questions about officiating emerged after their dramatic last-16 victory over Egypt, with Egypt coach Hossam Hassan accusing FIFA of wanting to keep the reigning champions alive. The Egyptian Football Association also complained that key refereeing decisions had unfairly influenced the result.
FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina rejected those claims, insisting match officials operated independently, while Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni dismissed suggestions that his team had received favorable treatment.
The criticism continued beyond refereeing debates, with Argentina also facing backlash over their conduct after matches.
Fernandez’s dismissal in the final led to heated confrontations involving teammates such as Leandro Paredes, while the squad was criticized for politically charged chants and banners referencing the Falkland Islands during the tournament.
