Every defending World Cup champion enters with one goal: keep the title. But only two countries have accomplished that goal: Brazil (1958, 1962) and Italy (1934, 1938). For every other nation, the slope has proved to be a lot more slippery, including Argentina.

But Argentina lost more than its title at the 2026 World Cup. After accusations of aggressive play, racist chants, and a particularly nasty post-match title fight, Argentina exited the tournament with a tarnished legacy.

Argentina Before Lionel Messi

Argentina has a profoundly strong football culture, but it was going through a championship drought before Lionel Messi‘s arrival to the football scene. Before the 2022 World Cup win, the South Americans’ last win had been in 1986.

The story was similar for Copa América. The nation last won Copa América in 1993 and then endured a 28-year drought before winning again in 2021 and 2024.

That’s not to say the team disappeared from the international stage. In the World Cup tournaments, they remained close contenders. After their 1986 World Cup win, their appearances and results were as follows:

• 1990: Runners-up (lost to West Germany)
• 1994: Round of 16
• 1998: Quarterfinals
• 2002: Group stage
• 2006: Quarterfinals
• 2010: Quarterfinals
• 2014: Runners-up (lost to Germany)
• 2018: Round of 16

Lionel Messi and Argentina’s combined victories in the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América restored the team to the top of international football. And Messi would cement his place in Argentinian history, alongside Maradona.

Were the Accusations New?

Some football followers described Argentinian’s post-final match behavior as a “fall from grace.” But others wondered if it was really a fall at all or just a pattern that people overlooked because the team was on a winning streak.

There were criticisms before the 2026 tournament.

During the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands, the Argentinian squad faced complaints about its aggressive style of play. The battle became so bitter, it was subsequently labeled the Battle of Lusail.

The game seemed relatively calm until the 43rd minute when it descended into chaos. There were 18 yellow cards – 10 for Argentina and 8 for the Netherlands – and one red card after the final whistle. The game was dirty, aggressive, and chaotic, and referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz struggled to keep control of the game. FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against both teams.

Beyond the Battle of Lusail, there were also accusations against the team for their racist chants. After Argentina won the 2024 Copa América, midfielder Enzo Fernández streamed a video showing Argentinian players singing a chant aimed at the French-African players. Chelsea, Fernández’s club team, started an internal disciplinary procedure against him. Although he apologized, Fernández’s embarrassing tactics would spill over two years later into the 2026 World Cup final. He received a red card during the final against Spain, leaving his team to finish the match one man short.

These events show that Argentina’s behavior didn’t happen overnight. Rather, it was an unresolved pattern that became impossible to ignore.

The Argentina vs Spain Match Was a Chance for Argentina to Change Its Story

By the time the final was underway, it was clear Argentina was in a losing position. Spain possessed the ball more, had clearly locked down the game, and had scored 20 shots. Argentina, on the other hand, had managed just two.

Unable to concede a defeat, Argentina’s emotions unraveled, and they became increasingly more aggressive during the match. The 1-0 loss would not have left a permanent stain on the Argentinian team. The post-match events, however, did.

After the final match and Argentina’s loss, a fight broke out. Argentinian player Leandro Paredes grabbed Spain’s Eric García by the throat and shoved him to the ground. Argentinian player Nahuel Molina continued the altercation with Spanish captain Rodri, and Argentinian’s assistant coach Roberto Ayala got into a confrontation with Spanish player Dani Olmo. FIFA announced it would open an investigation into the post-match fight.

Football fans and experts who criticized Argentina’s rough, “thug-like” behavior now had evidence. Others who felt the team lacked sportsmanship saw their beliefs confirmed post-match. And what the world watched was Argentina’s inability to accept defeat with dignity.

Politics Enters the Games

Argentinian fans also courted controversy after the England vs Argentina semifinal match when Argentinian players Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso were photographed holding up a banner that said, “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”).

The banner referred to Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands, which is still under British control. The United Kingdom and Argentina fought a 74-day war over the Falklands in 1982. Although the war ended with a British victory, the issue is still a sore point for Argentina. Because FIFA regulations forbid political messages at matches, the incident became yet another controversial moment for the South American team.

How Have Football Fans Reacted?

While the Argentinian players feel confident that their country stands behind them, the rest of the world is not so sure. For instance, the “Argentina Out” petition was an online fan campaign that garnered 23.3 million signatures from 170 countries calling on Argentina to be kicked out of the World Cup.

Spain’s victory over Argentina ended the petition, with the organizers posting a final message on their website: “FIFA ignored us but Spain delivered. Thank you Spain.”

Argentina’s Exit

Many World Cup runners-up leave disappointed but respected. Argentina’s exit seemed to be different. They exited the tournament as villains, with many football supporters celebrating their defeat.

They lost the title by one goal, but the damage to their reputation may be far more permanent.