Messi's cold shoulder to Enzo after red card debunks World Cup conspiracy theories

July 25, Hupu News — Footage captured after the 2026 World Cup final appears to show Lionel Messi ignoring Enzo Fernández following the midfielder's red card, further undermining conspiracy theories that Argentina intentionally lost the match, according to Argentina's La Nación.

Spain claimed the World Cup title in the final, while Argentina fell short in their bid to defend the championship. Within 24 hours of the match, a wave of conspiracy theories swept across Argentina. Observers noted several unusual details: Messi appeared subdued during the pre-match locker room pep talk, and the players seemed low-energy as they took the pitch.

Social media was flooded with rumors ranging from FBI involvement and geopolitical influences to references to the Malvinas Islands flag. While some details did appear odd, attributing the loss entirely to a "conspiracy" is widely seen as an overreaction. From a competitive standpoint, Argentina had faced few truly tough battles in recent years, and it was clear before the final that Spain and France were stronger sides.

Key Video: The "Ignored" Enzo

The most widely circulated and suspicious piece of content online is a post-match video capturing Argentine players processing their defeat on the sidelines, with midfielder Enzo at the center.

In the final moments of regular time, with the score still 0-0, Enzo received a second yellow card for a foul on Cubarsí and was sent off. This forced Argentina to play extra time with 10 men, putting them in a difficult position.

Video Details

After the match, Enzo—wearing slippers—returned to the sidelines to console his teammates. He hugged Lisandro Martínez, Nico González, and Lo Celso, all of whom responded warmly.

However, when he approached Messi and De Paul, the atmosphere became tense:

1. First pass: Messi was bending down to adjust his shoes, and De Paul was staring at the ground. Neither looked up at Enzo.
2. Second pass: After hugging coach Scaloni, Enzo walked between Messi and De Paul again. Messi still did not turn his head, and De Paul only glanced sideways before lowering his head again.
3. Stark contrast: Just four days earlier, in the semifinal against England, Enzo had excitedly carried Messi on his back in celebration. The two shared a close bond, with Enzo even writing a long letter as a teenager begging Messi not to leave the national team.

Why Did Messi Ignore Him?

This scene sparked widespread speculation: Was Messi genuinely angry at Enzo?

Some suggest Messi may not have seen him. But fans note that Messi possesses exceptional on-field awareness—often described as "radar-like"—making it highly unlikely he would miss a teammate at such close range multiple times.

If Messi was indeed angry, the reason is straightforward: that red card.

In such a crucial final, Enzo's avoidable foul left the team a man down, putting Argentina in a desperate position against a strong Spain side. For Messi, who was eager to retire with a second World Cup trophy, such a costly mistake from a basic error may have been hard to forgive in the moment.

Compared to the baseless conspiracy theories, this "cold treatment" from the captain toward a teammate who made a critical error may represent the most real and brutal aspect of professional football.

Source: La Nación