Messi's reputation in England hits rock bottom after World Cup 2026

British public fondness for Lionel Messi has dropped drastically after the string of ugly actions from the Argentina squad during the 2026 World Cup.

Messi's image deteriorates significantly after World Cup 2026

According to the latest YouGov survey, Messi's approval rating in England has plummeted from 55% to just 29%, while the percentage of people with a negative view of the superstar skyrocketed to 44%. His net favorability score dropped from +46 to -15 — a record decline, making his image even worse than that of rival Cristiano Ronaldo (-2).

The attitude of the British public toward Messi has become harsh due to a series of incidents directly involving him and his teammates:

Farce in the final: Messi was drawn into criticism when he deliberately asked the referee to show a red card to Marc Cucurella (Spain) simply because the defender covered his mouth while speaking (in fact, Cucurella had not yet covered his mouth but only raised his hand to his lips) — a new FIFA penalty rule at the tournament.

Escaping punishment: As early as the opening match against Algeria, Messi used his studs to stamp directly on the calf and Achilles tendon of captain Aissa Mandi. Although the opponent was injured, Messi escaped any punishment entirely, and VAR did not even intervene.

Allegations of favoritism: Many fans and coaches (such as Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan) publicly accused the referees and VAR of consistently making decisions favorable to Argentina in order to "protect" Messi and help him advance deep into the tournament.

Political conflict involvement: The wave of outrage in England intensified as Argentine players repeatedly displayed banners and sang songs asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) — a sensitive disputed territory with the United Kingdom.

Despite his tarnished image and losing his place in the top 5 greatest players in history according to many British sports journalists, Messi still scored 8 goals and maintained a certain professionalism. After losing to Spain in the final, while his teammates were busy brawling and turning their backs during the opponents' trophy ceremony, Messi took the initiative to go over and shake hands to congratulate young talent Lamine Yamal.