New footage has emerged showing Argentina captain Lionel Messi delivering a peculiar message to his teammates moments before their World Cup final defeat against Spain. The video, circulating on social media, captures Messi addressing a seemingly downbeat squad just before they were set to take the field.
"Come on, guys, stay calm, folks. Let's stay calm, guys. Let's just think about playing, stay calm. Let's forget about everything. Let's just think about playing, folks," Messi is heard saying in the clip, as he prepared to lead the team out.
The match, which saw Spain secure a 1-0 victory in extra time, has been followed by considerable discussion online, with fans dissecting Messi's pre-game words. This commentary intensified following Argentina's aggressive play throughout the tournament and a mass brawl that erupted after the final whistle.
Some supporters have theorized that Messi's statement was an attempt to dismiss negative external perceptions of the team, referencing claims that referees had favored Argentina during the knockout stages. Opposition managers from Egypt and Switzerland had previously voiced strong accusations of biased officiating following their respective defeats.
Other theories suggest the players were overwhelmed by the emotional prospect of potentially playing their final World Cup match alongside the legendary Messi, who was 39 years old at the time. The final itself ended in controversy, with several Argentina players, including Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, involved in altercations with Spanish players.
Following the match, Argentina's manager, Lionel Scaloni, left his post-match press conference in tears, 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."
The aftermath also saw Argentina's players decline to watch Spain lift the World Cup trophy. After receiving their silver medals, the defeated finalists turned away from the ceremony to engage with their supporters, with many appearing emotional.
Fans on social media have continued to speculate about the atmosphere within the Argentina camp prior to the final, with observations about the demeanor of players like Enzo Fernandez and Lisandro Martinez before the game adding to the conjecture. The lack of social media posts from key figures after the loss has also been noted by some observers.
