November 3
Argentina’s performance in the 2026 World Cup final has sparked significant reactions, with some even resorting to conspiracy theories to explain the display by Lionel Messi and his teammates.
These conspiracy theories have circulated among some Argentine fans on social media, as they attempt to make sense of their national team’s defeat to Spain—a match in which the latter remained overwhelmingly dominant throughout the entire 120 minutes.
Some Argentines interpreted the players' calm demeanor—and their lack of visible intensity—against Spain as a possible sign that they had entered the final match feeling constrained or affected by some unknown factor; this was an attempt to find an explanation, external to the pitch, for the team’s lackluster performance.
In the months following the World Cup, Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, and others dismissed these theories—and today, Alexis Mac Allister has weighed in on the matter.
"I come from a footballing family," Alister said, according to an Argentine network, "and we know that such things do not exist."
He continued: "We live in a world today where anything can be said on social media without any repercussions."
The Liverpool midfielder added: "People say whatever they please, but deep down, we know what happened. We gave it our all, and it’s a shame we didn’t win."
He went on: "We are focusing on the positives. It was a major disappointment because we felt we were close, but Spain was much better and deserved the win."
He emphasized that "while our physical attributes were good, the same couldn't be said for our football—and that is where they made the difference."
One of the key factors behind the dip in performance was the mental exhaustion that followed the historic comeback against England in the semi-finals.
He added: "I felt fine, but there was a general fatigue from playing every three days, compounded by mental exhaustion. The match against England was incredibly intense, and the lead-up to it was equally demanding—given the historical context and how such matches are perceived in our country—which likely drained some of our energy."
