[dabigv13]

He then led his teammates in turning their backs to the Spanish players when they received their victory medals.

This is one of the most inane anti-Argentina/anti-Messi stories being pushed by the social media algorithms during this World Cup. Messi did not lead his teammates in any sort of way to ignore the trophy presentation. In 2022, France was already in the locker room when the trophy was lifted. I don't recall any stories about a controversy at the time and why should there be?

Argentina and Messi were listening to their fans in their end singing to them as the greatest of all time likely steps off the stage for good. At every match in this WC the Argentina team spent a lot of time after with their fans singing, certainly more than Spain or any other team for that matter.

If Spanish fans are offended that the Argentinian team wanted to look up at their fans instead of the Spanish team handing the trophy over to the King of Spain (???) and Spanish princesses(?????), that is some loser sh*t. If non-Spanish fans are offended, even worse.

Argentinian (population 48 million, GDP $0.69 trillion) fans vastly outnumbered the Spanish (pop 48 million, GDP $2.09 trillion) fans during the final, which they did at every single match.

I saw Spain vs Belgium live, which was an exciting match. The one Spanish chant that happened, a couple times, was Es-pan-ya, and it was pretty weak.

Against Cabo Verde, the Argentinian fans sung at least 8 different songs, some with several verses. And the entire stadium sang them (no, none of them were racist, though Brazil and England catch a few strays even in matches they don't play). 

In Argentina, it just means more. This I think at least partially explains some of the greatness of Argentinian soccer (Maradona, Messi, Di Stefano, Riquelme, this team playing far above their skill level powered by grit and brotherly love), along with some of the pathologies (Paredes going psycho mode, away fans banned at all Argentinian league matches).

Of course, it is ugly to talk about, but a lot of the hate Argentina gets is probably just jealousy. They have 3 World Cups. Mexico (pop 134m, GDP 2.12 trillion) has none, never been close. The US (pop 343m, GDP 32.38t) has none, never been close. England (pop 58m, GDP 3.6t, invented the game) has one, in 1966 as hosts, no other final appearances.

I know many Mexican fans. ~50% rooted against Argentina, and their reasons are valid and understandable. I guarantee 100% would take a semifinal win over England, where Argentinian fans drowned out the English anthem, the Argentinian players mentally dominated the English, and they won with some bad temper still on the field at the end, rather than losing valiantly in the R16, but at least there are hugs at the end of the game with the victorious English in the Azteca.

Are the Argentinians arrogant? Yes, undoubtedly, and when it comes to soccer they have good reason. I married into Argentinian fandom, but even if I hadn't I would support Argentina because they are a team that should be an underdog, but largely because of their passion for the sport they have made themselves into one of the consistent greats. 

With Brazil (pop 214m, GDP 2.64 t) in the wilderness and Argentina probably on the downswing now as well, international soccer is likely entering a period of European dominance at the highest level. And that's pretty boring and lame imho. The Argentinians will be missed in the top echelons when they are gone I think, but they are still far more likely to win another WC before Mexico, or the US, or England, and I think their future is brighter than Brazil as well.

[dabigv13]

He then led his teammates in turning their backs to the Spanish players when they received their victory medals.

This is one of the most inane anti-Argentina/anti-Messi stories being pushed by the social media algorithms during this World Cup. Messi did not lead his teammates in any sort of way to ignore the trophy presentation. In 2022, France was already in the locker room when the trophy was lifted. I don't recall any stories about a controversy at the time and why should there be?

Argentina and Messi were listening to their fans in their end singing to them as the greatest of all time likely steps off the stage for good. At every match in this WC the Argentina team spent a lot of time after with their fans singing, certainly more than Spain or any other team for that matter.

If Spanish fans are offended that the Argentinian team wanted to look up at their fans instead of the Spanish team handing the trophy over to the King of Spain (???) and Spanish princesses(?????), that is some loser sh*t. If non-Spanish fans are offended, even worse.

Argentinian (population 48 million, GDP $0.69 trillion) fans vastly outnumbered the Spanish (pop 48 million, GDP $2.09 trillion) fans during the final, which they did at every single match.

I saw Spain vs Belgium live, which was an exciting match. The one Spanish chant that happened, a couple times, was Es-pan-ya, and it was pretty weak.

Against Cabo Verde, the Argentinian fans sung at least 8 different songs, some with several verses. And the entire stadium sang them (no, none of them were racist, though Brazil and England catch a few strays even in matches they don't play). 

In Argentina, it just means more. This I think at least partially explains some of the greatness of Argentinian soccer (Maradona, Messi, Di Stefano, Riquelme, this team playing far above their skill level powered by grit and brotherly love), along with some of the pathologies (Paredes going psycho mode, away fans banned at all Argentinian league matches).

Of course, it is ugly to talk about, but a lot of the hate Argentina gets is probably just jealousy. They have 3 World Cups. Mexico (pop 134m, GDP 2.12 trillion) has none, never been close. The US (pop 343m, GDP 32.38t) has none, never been close. England (pop 58m, GDP 3.6t, invented the game) has one, in 1966 as hosts, no other final appearances.

I know many Mexican fans. ~50% rooted against Argentina, and their reasons are valid and understandable. I guarantee 100% would take a semifinal win over England, where Argentinian fans drowned out the English anthem, the Argentinian players mentally dominated the English, and they won with some bad temper still on the field at the end, rather than losing valiantly in the R16, but at least there are hugs at the end of the game with the victorious English in the Azteca.

Are the Argentinians arrogant? Yes, undoubtedly, and when it comes to soccer they have good reason. I married into Argentinian fandom, but even if I hadn't I would support Argentina because they are a team that should be an underdog, but largely because of their passion for the sport they have made themselves into one of the consistent greats. 

With Brazil (pop 214m, GDP 2.64 t) in the wilderness and Argentina probably on the downswing now as well, international soccer is likely entering a period of European dominance at the highest level. And that's pretty boring and lame imho. The Argentinians will be missed in the top echelons when they are gone I think, but they are still far more likely to win another WC before Mexico, or the US, or England, and I think their future is brighter than Brazil as well.