New footage showing Lionel Messi’s pre-match and half-time team talks has led to renewed discussion regarding the pressure faced by Argentina in the recent FIFA World Cup final. The videos, captured in the dressing room and players’ tunnel before the final against Spain, have prompted fan speculation due to Messi’s repeated calls for his teammates to “forget everything” and concentrate solely on the game.
The footage gained significant traction after Argentina’s performance, which was described as subdued under Lionel Scaloni. The team ultimately lost after extra time to Spain at MetLife Stadium. Spain largely controlled the match, with Argentina struggling to create significant attacking opportunities for extended periods.
Pre-Match Messages and Team Demeanour
One video, filmed just before the players exited the dressing room, shows Messi attempting to calm a visibly tense squad. He urged his teammates, “Calm, let’s stay calm, lads. Let’s think about playing, nothing else. Stay calm. Let’s forget about everything, let’s forget about everything. Let’s focus on playing.”
Another clip from the tunnel captured Messi delivering a similar message just before kick-off. He was heard telling his teammates, “Come on, boys, let’s forget what happened, as if nothing had happened.” This wording particularly caught the attention of supporters, especially as several players, including Lisandro Martinez and Enzo Fernandez, appeared emotional and unusually quiet.
Martinez was later substituted due to injury during the first half, and Fernandez received a second yellow card late in normal time, leading to his dismissal.
Half-Time Rally and Post-Match Reflections
Messi’s leadership continued into the half-time interval. Television cameras recorded another motivational speech before Argentina returned for the second half. “Come on, lads. Personality, people, personality. We’ve always had it, so why wouldn’t we have it now? We have the personality to play,” Messi encouraged his team.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also tried to motivate the squad with an impassioned message, stating, “With heart, lads. Let’s move forward, not backward… Only cowards play backward.” Despite these rallying cries, Argentina found it difficult to assert themselves before Ferran Torres scored the winning goal.
The unusual nature of Messi’s comments has led to numerous theories online. Adding to the intrigue, Scaloni mentioned after the final that “things happened” before the match but declined to elaborate further “out of respect for the tournament.”
Speculation and Unconfirmed Claims
The video has sparked various interpretations on social media. Many users observed that the squad appeared more serious than usual, with expressions of concern and a mood that differed from their demeanour throughout the rest of the tournament. One user on X commented that Messi’s pep talk seemed “really strange and completely anticlimactic,” noting the “worried faces and the low energy.” Another user highlighted the “flat, lifeless, beaten” body language of the team, suggesting something was amiss.
Among the theories circulating were unsubstantiated claims, relayed by journalist Eduardo Feinmann, alleging that Messi’s call to ‘forget everything’ was linked to rumours about FBI agents being at the stadium to arrest AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia. According to Feinmann, this rumour caused unease within the Argentine delegation and reached the players.
However, these claims have not been confirmed by the AFA or any member of the squad, nor have they been backed by evidence or official sources. Messi later reflected on the defeat in an emotional Instagram message, stating, “The pain is immense, and it will take time for this wound to heal. But I also hold on to all the good… this group reached two consecutive World Cup finals.” Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul also dismissed accusations surrounding Argentina’s tournament run, criticising those who spread “baseless conspiracy theories” during the World Cup. The viral footage continues to fuel debate and speculation about the events leading up to the match.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
