The import of that iconic song – ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ – by highly-acclaimed and internationally renowned singer, Madonna, ran through my mind right after the last whistle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, but from a different perspective.
While Madonna put the words of an Argentine first lady into account from the movie ‘Evita,’ which was a tragedy filled with lamentations over the effects of social imbalance and class differences, I cried over the collapse of Argentina. Not due to the loss of their football team, but because they did not uphold the values of sportsmanship and respect for an opponent.
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Truthfully, I gave all my odds in favour of an Argentina win during that big game in New Jersey, USA; mostly because I felt ‘the magic’ of Lionel Messi would make all the necessary difference and cause lots of pain for Spain.
I also felt that the Argies had luck on their side (as seen in their last gasp victories over Cape Verde, Egypt and England). There was also a big issue about history, which had to be noted in the context of World Cup statistics that rank Argentina ahead of Spain on all cards.
That’s not to say Spain lacked their own fair share of honours – 2010 World Cup winners, Europe’s current champions, and highest ranked nation on FIFA’s monthly rankings heading into this year’s Mundial. There was also the fact that they had conceded a single goal ahead of Sunday’s final, before which they totally dominated France en route to a famous 2-0 win the semi-finals.
Despite all those high points, values and assets flaunted by La Roja, I never gave them a chance to hold La Albiceleste, let alone defeat them – simply because I felt ‘The Magic of Messi’ would make things happen for the defending champs. However, that’s where I got it all wrong. That’s where Messi, his pals and their fans also got it wrong.
First and foremost, there was the small sentimental yet symbolic fact that only Brazil have won the FIFA World Cup back-to-back, and that was in the ‘days of darkness,’ when minnows could not stand up to confront or even dare football giants. So, Argentina wanted to equal the feat of their South American rivals in the era of jet-age football, when Liluputhians no longer exist in the round leather game.
Secondly, there was the technical quotient of team play, collective responsibility and joint effort that make a big difference in a crunch game of football. That was the trump card Spain held onto – which helped them defeat three teams that rely on marquee players to win matches (Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo, France with Kylian Mbappe and Argentina with Lionel Messi).
Spain were surely not the most exciting team to watch at USA/Canada/Mexico 2026; but they were the most compact, collective, and constructive squad in the entire contest.
Where others flattered to deceive, The Arnada simply stayed calm, cool, cautious and collected. They never played to the gallery and never tried to impress anyone.
They never flaunted their values, and gave no reason for any analyst to tout them as likely champs.
In contrast with ‘the hidden agenda’ from Spain, Argentina opted to be flamboyant and extravagant. They relied on a ‘demi god,’ exposed all their aces and relished how pundits rated them champions-in-waiting, while Messi became ‘the GOAT-to-be.’ Such huge mistakes, many of them…
By and large, most of us paid the price for hailing a winner before the game was played. However, wise ones among us learnt a crucial lesson the hard way.
Not so for the men who were directly bereaved. Instead of accepting their defeat in good faith, agree that the better team won and then allow the spirit of sportsmanship rule their emotions, The Argies put up a sordid show of bad losers … and lost all respect that their admirers (like me) held for them. They are now the only team without a single shot on goal in a World Cup final!
Such an ugly sight it also was seeing Messi, who was completely lost in the game, trying desperately to get Marc Cucurella sent off, then turned his back on the trophy presentation and shed tears like a baby.
Such a sad and bad commentary it was for a man who has won everything in the world of football. What about the wise creed that says ‘live and let live?’ Isn’t the sky big enough to allow all birds fly without knocking wings? Isn’t the ocean wide enough for several fish to swim without colliding?
Sadly, Sunday’s final exposed egocentric tendencies in Messi and his Argentine ilk. No wonder luck eventually deserted them when it mattered most. They failed to acknowledge the role grace, favour and mercy (not Messi) played in taking them that far. They allowed pride, overconfidence, ego and haughtiness rule their sensibilities – but forget that the Holy Book says ‘pride goes before a fall!’
