Argentine President Javier Milei has attributed criticism surrounding the national football team's World Cup final loss to "jealousy" from other nations who, he claims, are envious of Argentina's widespread talents. The libertarian leader watched the match from home due to superstition, witnessing Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Milei, who previously asserted in April that the Falkland Islands "will always be Argentine," also suggested that refereeing decisions unfairly disadvantaged his country during the tournament. He stated that Argentina "could have grabbed an equalizer in the final minutes, even though the run of play was not at all favourable." He further described the team's behavior as "measured and organized" and characterized them as "always distinguished fighting until the end."
These remarks come amidst an ongoing FIFA investigation into the Argentine team's conduct following the final whistle. Unsettling post-match scenes included midfielder Leandro Paredes grabbing Spain's Eric Garcia by the neck and pushing over Gavi. Nicolas Otamendi, who has since retired from international football, also reportedly engaged in an altercation with Spain captain Rodri.
The public perception throughout the tournament, according to consensus and reports from opponents, was that Argentina received numerous favorable calls from officials. This contrasts with Milei's assertion that the refereeing was not favorable.
Adding to the post-match narrative, Milei inadvertently published a scheduled tweet on Monday morning that celebrated an anticipated victory and announced a national holiday. The tweet, intended for a win, read: "WORLD CELEBRATION: Given the concern about the celebrations for the achievement reached by the Argentine National Team, I inform the population that, depending on what the Players and the Technical Staff decide regarding the day to celebrate, it will be declared a national holiday."
Argentina's performance saw them reach three finals in the last four World Cup editions, though they were unable to replicate their 2022 victory over France. Milei's presidency, which began in 2023, has faced declining popularity amid corruption allegations, including the recent resignation of his cabinet chief.