Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final has been dismissed as “a load of rubbish” by Manchester United great Gary Neville, who insists only the brilliance of Lionel Messi carried them to the showpiece defeat by Spain.
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 final, denying Messi back‐to‐back world titles and sparking an emotional scenes as the 39‐year‐old was seen in tears at the end.
But Neville, 51, said on the “Stick to Football” podcast that the South Americans’ overall performance in the final did not merit sympathy.
“They played so badly, let’s be clear,” he said. “They played badly, what I mean is if they managed to stay in the game you have to praise them. Well done, but they played poorly.”
‘Without Messi, they would have struggled to get there’
Neville, the former Valencia coach who won 85 caps for England, argued that Argentina’s second consecutive appearance in a World Cup final owed almost everything to their captain, who scored eight goals during the tournament.
“Argentina have wonderful cohesion and a fierce competitive spirit, and they have an amazing player up front who helps them win,” Neville said. “Without him they would probably have struggled to get there.”
Despite acknowledging the team’s mentality and togetherness, Neville refused to soften his verdict on their display against Spain.
“If it looks bad and smells bad, it is bad, frankly,” he insisted. “What we saw in the final was an average performance, they played badly at different times.”
Spain’s victory denied Argentina the chance to retain the trophy they had won in Qatar in 2022 and denied Messi the opportunity to close his World Cup career with a third global crown.
Ian Wright ‘happy’ for Spain but hurt by Messi tears
Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, who earned 33 caps for his country, shared the studio with Neville and admitted to mixed feelings about the result.
“I am happy that Argentina didn’t win, but I am sad as well,” Wright said. “I didn’t like seeing Messi cry like that, it was clear how much it affected him,” he added. “But I’m very happy for Spain.”
Spain’s triumph capped a tournament in which they combined defensive solidity with clinical attacking play, culminating in the narrow victory over an Argentina side built around their veteran No.10.
For Messi, who had spearheaded Argentina’s charge with his eight goals, the loss will fuel debate over whether this was his final World Cup appearance. His visible distress at full-time underlined the weight of expectation and the personal significance of the occasion.
Neville’s forthright comments, contrasting sharply with the sympathy expressed by Wright, are likely to provoke discussion among supporters over how Argentina’s campaign – and Messi’s role in it – should be judged: as a near-miss from a flawed team, or a heroic last stand led by one of football’s greatest ever players.
