Lionel Messi has responded to accusations of favoritism regarding Argentina's journey to the FIFA World Cup final, asserting that the team has earned its success through hard work and performance rather than external influences or biased officiating. Argentina secured their place in the final after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against England in the semifinal, where they were trailing 1-0 until the 85th minute. They will face Spain in the final on Sunday.

Argentina's Resilience

The win over England sparked widespread celebrations in Buenos Aires, with thousands of fans taking to the streets as Argentina moved closer to winning consecutive World Cups. This match was yet another example of Lionel Scaloni's squad demonstrating their ability to recover from difficult situations, having previously come back from a 2-0 deficit against Egypt to win 3-2 and overcoming Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time.

Criticism and Allegations

Despite their success, Argentina's victories have not been without controversy. Coaches from both Switzerland and Egypt expressed dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions following their losses, with Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan suggesting that his team was disadvantaged by a football establishment that favored Messi and Argentina. Additionally, some fans have claimed that the World Cup draw has been advantageous for Argentina, while unfounded rumors circulated on social media alleging that FIFA is biased towards the defending champions.

In light of these criticisms, Messi firmly defended his team's achievements, stating, “We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says.” He emphasized that reaching the final again is a testament to their consistent performance and that they have not been given any unfair advantages. Messi concluded by highlighting the rarity of reaching two consecutive World Cup finals, reinforcing that their success is well-deserved and hard-earned.