New footage has emerged showing Lionel Messi delivering a peculiar pre-match speech to his Argentina teammates moments before their World Cup final defeat against Spain. The video, which has gone viral on social media, captures Messi addressing a visibly downcast squad as they prepared to take the field.
"Come on, guys, stay calm, folks. Let's stay calm, guys," Messi can be heard saying in the clip. "Let's just think about playing, stay calm. Let's forget about everything. Let's just think about playing, folks."
The unusual message has fueled speculation online about the team's state of mind heading into the crucial match, which they ultimately lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time. Social media users pointed to the dejected expressions of players like Enzo Fernandez and Lisandro Martinez as evidence that something was amiss within the Argentine camp.
This introspection into the team's mindset comes after a tournament where Argentina faced criticism for aggressive tactics and controversial refereeing decisions that some believed favored them. Teams like Egypt and Switzerland had previously voiced strong objections to officiating during their matches against Argentina.
Following the final whistle, which saw Spain secure victory with a late goal, the match devolved into a mass brawl. Argentina's Leandro Paredes was sent off for an altercation with Spain's players, while Nahuel Molina also engaged in physical altercations.
Argentina's manager, Lionel Scaloni, appeared visibly emotional after the game, leaving a press conference in tears and stating, "We need time to reset and form another group like this one. It'll be hard to recreate this one. It hurts my soul, I'm sorry."
Fans have offered various theories to explain the team's subdued demeanor and performance. Some suggest Messi's words were an attempt to have his teammates disregard negative external perceptions of the team throughout the tournament. Others speculate that the players were overcome with emotion at the prospect of it being Messi's final World Cup appearance, despite his not having officially retired.
Argentina's post-match conduct also drew attention, as the team reportedly refused to watch Spain lift the World Cup trophy. Instead, they collected their silver medals and congregated with their fans.
