Messi has message for World Cup critics of Argentina: 'Nothing was handed to us'

Key Points:

• Lionel Messi defended Argentina against accusations of favoritism and biased officiating, emphasizing the team's championship pedigree and resilience in overcoming late-game deficits, including their recent 2-1 semifinal win over England.
• Argentina's path to the final included controversial moments, such as a key decision against Switzerland leading to a red card, which drew criticism from Swiss and Egyptian coaches who alleged unfair treatment favoring Argentina.
• Despite complaints from opposing teams and fans alleging FIFA bias, Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed such claims, urging skepticism towards social media narratives and asserting the difficulty of receiving officiating help under VAR.
• The semifinal victory against England intensified political tensions, as Argentine players celebrated with a banner asserting sovereignty over the disputed Falkland Islands, prompting the British government to call for a FIFA investigation.
• Messi highlighted the rarity and significance of reaching consecutive World Cup finals, framing Argentina's success as earned and dismissing detractors as motivated by frustration and unfounded claims.