It wasn’t just another match for Lionel Messi. Despite Argentina already securing their spot in the 2026 World Cup, the Argentine captain approached the clash against Colombia with fiery intensity.
His emotions boiled over during heated exchanges with James Rodríguez and controversial remarks directed at the referee, incidents that could potentially lead to disciplinary action.
The tension began even before kickoff. Messi and James shared a noticeably frosty handshake, a lingering effect of the Colombian star’s past comments about alleged referee favoritism toward Argentina in the 2024 Copa America final.
As the match unfolded, tempers flared, especially after Enzo Fernandez was shown a red card. Messi didn’t hold back with defiant words to James Rodriguez. “You said the referees helped us in the final,” Messi reportedly said, referencing the Copa America. A startled James replied, “I didn’t say anything”. Messi shot back, “You talk too much”.
The evidence FIFA might use against Messi
Messi’s frustration extended beyond the Colombian players. His dissatisfaction with Paraguayan referee Juan Gabriel Benítez led to a pointed outburst, captured on video.
“It’s your fault. You caused all of this. Everything that happened is because of what you called,” Messi told Benítez, referencing the scuffles between players after the match.
The video, now viewed over 9 million times on Instagram, could be pivotal. According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, verbal misconduct toward match officials can result in a suspension of “at least four matches or an appropriate time period”.
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