Many Black Americans supported Spain rather than Argentina during Sunday’s World Cup final, driven by concerns over racist behaviour from sections of the Albiceleste fanbase and the silence of captain Lionel Messi on the issue.
The final pitted two former champions against each other, yet for numerous viewers the contest carried significance beyond football. While Spain’s colonial history drew criticism, Argentina faced particular scrutiny over repeated racist incidents linked to its supporters and the political stance of the country’s leadership.
Racist Incidents Overshadow Success
Videos circulated on social media showing Argentinian fans directing racial epithets towards Black people, including verbal assaults on American streamer IShowSpeed. The incidents followed controversy at the Copa América, where members of Argentina’s squad sang a racist chant targeting France’s Black players immediately following their tournament victory.
The chant, which drew worldwide condemnation, contributed to a perception that racist attitudes pervade sections of the Argentinian football community. Supporters were also filmed wearing Argentina team colours while hurling abuse, creating an association between the national team and discriminatory behaviour.
Messi’s Silence
Star forward Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history alongside Pelé, did not publicly condemn these incidents during the World Cup. He offered no statement addressing the racist abuse from supporters, nor did he criticise the Copa América chant that sparked international backlash.
Writer Etan Thomas argued that sporting greatness does not automatically translate to moral courage. “A time comes when silence is betrayal,” Thomas wrote, quoting Dr Martin Luther King Jr. The observation highlighted a distinction between athletic achievement and willingness to confront discrimination.
Thomas contrasted Messi’s approach with emerging talents such as Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who has spoken openly about his family’s struggles with poverty and his father’s efforts to find discarded items that could be repaired or sold for food money. Yamal’s willingness to discuss social issues presented a sharp contrast to the Argentinian captain’s reticence.
Political Context
Beyond the terraces, political factors influenced sentiment against Argentina. President Javier Milei has embraced positions aligning closely with former US president Donald Trump and offered vocal support for Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated he supported Argentina “before Messi” because of Milei’s stance.
The combination of fan behaviour, the captain’s silence and political associations led many Black American viewers to favour Spain during the final, despite acknowledging Spain’s own historical complexities regarding colonialism and race.