Cristiano Ronaldo's Instagram 'Like' Sparks Fresh FIFA-Argentina Controversy

Last Updated:July 21, 2026, 23:45 IST

Ronaldo's Instagram account appeared to like a video questioning Argentina's World Cup run, reigniting debate over officiating and his long-standing rivalry with Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the centre of fresh World Cup controversy after his verified Instagram account appeared to like a video that questioned Argentina’s route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and criticised world football’s governing body.

Screenshots widely shared across social media showed Ronaldo’s verified account, @cristiano, among those who had liked an Instagram Reel uploaded by Spanish television programme Espejo Público before Spain’s showdown with Argentina.

Video Questioned Argentina’s World Cup Run

The clip featured journalist Pilar Rodríguez Losantos, who made a series of controversial claims about Argentina’s progress through the knockout stages.

Speaking in Spanish, she said:

“Argentina are a team who should have been eliminated approximately five matches ago, with the help of FIFA, which is one of the most corrupt institutions on planet Earth."

She also suggested Spain would effectively be playing against FIFA itself in the final, alleging that the governing body wanted Lionel Messi’s side to lift the trophy.

Ronaldo has not commented publicly on the interaction or explained why the post appeared among his liked content. A social media “like" does not necessarily indicate agreement with every claim made in a post, although the screenshots quickly attracted widespread attention online.

Rivalry Adds Another Layer

The timing inevitably intensified discussion because of Ronaldo’s long-running rivalry with Messi, one of football’s defining storylines for nearly two decades.

Portugal’s World Cup campaign had ended in the Round of 16 against eventual champions Spain, with Ronaldo later confirming the tournament had been his final World Cup appearance.

Any public interaction involving criticism of Messi or Argentina is closely scrutinised by supporters of both players, and this incident proved no different.

Officiating Remained Under Scrutiny

Questions over refereeing had already followed Argentina throughout the tournament, particularly after their controversial 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Egypt. The Egyptians were left furious after a VAR review ruled out a goal and a late penalty appeal was waved away before Argentina scored the winner.

The Egyptian Football Association subsequently lodged a formal complaint with FIFA.

However, FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, rejected allegations of bias and defended the independence of match officials. While several officiating decisions generated fierce debate, no evidence has been presented to substantiate claims of corruption or deliberate manipulation.

Argentina eventually reached the final before falling 1-0 to Spain after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute to hand La Roja their second World Cup title.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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