The Argentine national team once again gave a lesson on and off the field. After eliminating England in a historic semifinal, the players unfurled a banner reading “Las Malvinas son argentinas,” defying FIFA’s ban and the submissive stance of Javier Milei’s government. Hours later, Lionel Messi stated that “people can’t make ends meet,” a phrase that set off all alarms at the Casa Rosada.
The conflict is not new. In April 2025, singer María Becerra had criticized the government over the fires in Patagonia and pointed out that “any working person, doctor, teacher, police officer, should be able to be at ease.” Milei attacked her on social media, but reality seems to prove the artist right. A report from the Instituto Argentina Grande (IAG) revealed that the activity rate for those over 65 reached 16.89% in the fourth quarter of 2025, the highest recorded value. More and more retirees have to keep working to make ends meet.
Messi, in the post-match interview with journalist Matías Pelliccioni, not only repeated the phrase but expanded on it: “We know that World Cups are special for us and we forget all the bad things we have to go through, that there are people who are struggling, who don’t have work, who can’t make ends meet.” The captain chose those words with the same precision with which he chooses a goal pass. It was neither a mistake nor a coincidence.
The government reacted with the spotlight on the messengers. Spokesperson Ravier came out to say that “we in the government do not agree with this idea that people can’t make ends meet.” But the pressure was such that the Official Response Office had to acknowledge the situation, although blaming Kirchnerism: “Two decades of Kirchnerist decadence cannot be erased in twenty-four months.” A desperate attempt to divert attention.
Meanwhile, the Malvinas flag generated a global tsunami. Google searches for “Malvinas” skyrocketed by 800% worldwide, even surpassing “Falklands” in the United States. The message reached 1 billion people who watched the semifinal, ten times the population of Argentina and England combined. Milei’s government, which accepted FIFA’s bans without complaint, was exposed before the national pride that the players did defend.
The president’s discomfort is evident. Milei had previously said that “it is false that people can’t make ends meet; if it were true, the streets would be full of corpses.” Now, the world’s best footballer contradicts him with concrete data and overwhelming popularity. The national team, unintentionally, became the voice of a people who find no echo in power.
On Sunday, in the final, the world will look at Argentina again. And while the players dream of glory, millions of Argentines will continue to wonder how to make ends meet. The ball, this time, is on the people’s side.
Para mí Messi y estos zurdos de la Selección son unos vendepatria usando Malvinas para hacer política. La gente no llega a fin de mes? No jodan vagos Milei labura para que dejemos de ser pobres ustedes son unos K chorros viva la libertad carajo
Para mí Messi y los pibes le meten un golazo al gobierno facho con la bandera de Malvinas y el reclamo de la gente que no llega a fin de mes. Milei se hace el picante pero sus políticas de ajuste nos dejan en la lona. Vamos Selección carajo los gorilas no nos van a callar.