Former Argentine national basketball team player Andrés “Chapu” Nocioni let loose on social media. In a video posted to his Instagram account, the Golden Generation member targeted the wave of racism accusations that rained down on Argentina after Sunday’s loss in the 2026 World Cup final.
“Now I have to hear that Argentina is racist. Please people, stop talking nonsense,” Nocioni fired, visibly heated. The former small forward, who shone in the NBA and Europe, held nothing back and came to the country’s defense against what he considers a smear campaign.
Chapu also took the opportunity to congratulate the Argentine national football team on their runner-up finish, though he acknowledged the team had no chance against Spain. “We had no chance to beat them,” he admitted, adding that “the truth is they played very well and we had no chance to beat them. I congratulated my team because they reached the final.”
But Nocioni didn’t stop there. He also analyzed the origin of the hatred unleashed on social media. “It seems to me that this hatred comes because sometimes we hate players who are not on our team; it’s totally logical and normal,” he explained. And he gave an example from his own experience: when he played, he felt “anger” toward Spanish basketball players like Pau Gasol, Felipe Reyes, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Sergi Llull because they weren’t on his team. “I would have liked to have them on my side,” he confessed.
The Olympic champion from Athens 2004 also targeted influencers and journalists who, according to him, fueled the fire of hatred on social media. “It’s terrible,” he summarized, and said that he himself received insults after congratulating Spain and acknowledging Argentina’s performance.
To close, Nocioni sent a message of unity: “Congratulations to Spain, who were legitimate champions. The Argentine national team had an incredible tournament, one for the history books. I am very proud to be Argentine.”
Meanwhile, another Argentine sports legend also joined the debate. Mario Alberto Kempes, world champion in 1978, questioned theories of a supposed “fix” in the final. In a video posted on his social media, the Matador said those versions lack evidence and asked not to spread unfounded content. “A team that lowers its level in a match is not the same as one that doesn’t compete,” he explained, and defended fans’ right to demand, but without falling into baseless accusations. “This jersey is respected in good times and bad,” he stated.
Kempes, who attended several of Argentina’s World Cup matches, entered the MetLife Stadium field before the final alongside Spanish player Andrés Iniesta to display the World Cup trophy. A gesture that, for many, symbolizes respect between two world football powers.
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Para mí esto huele a blanco hegemónico llorando por su privilegio. Racismo estructural existe acá y en todo el mundo, Chapu. Bancá a los que la sufren en vez de hacerte el ofendido. Vergüenza de ídolo, dejá de hablar barbaridades.
che chapu tenes toda la razon dejen de joder con el racismo berreta los yankis y europeos se creen superiores y nos vienen a dar lecciones que se vayan a cagar con su hipocresia aca en argentina no hay racismo de verdad solo huevadas de zurdos llorones para mi esto es una cortina de humo de los medios vendidos firme lobo estepario