Messi Says “Nothing Was Handed to Us” as Argentina Silence the Haters

What’s the Big Fuss About?

Lionel Messi, the superstar of Argentina’s soccer team, had a simple message for people who don’t like Argentina: “Nothing was handed to us.”

Some fans and even coaches have been saying mean things about Argentina, the team that won the last World Cup. They think the team gets special treatment from the referees (the people who make the rules calls during a game) and from the big bosses of soccer. Messi says that’s not true. He says Argentina wins because they are just that good.

The England Comeback

Here is what happened in the big game against England:

• Argentina was losing 1-0 until the 85th minute (that’s very late in the game!).
• They scored two quick goals to win 2-1.
• This win sent them to the World Cup final.
• After the game, tens of thousands of happy fans flooded the streets of Buenos Aires (Argentina’s capital) to celebrate.

Important Point: Argentina is now just ONE win away from winning back-to-back World Cup titles (winning two in a row)!

Other Tough Games and Comebacks

Argentina didn’t just have one lucky game. They also:

1. Beat Cape Verde in extra time (that means playing more minutes after the normal game ends).
2. Beat Switzerland in extra time.
3. Came back from being down 2-0 with only 11 minutes left to beat Egypt 3-2.

These are all proof that the team never gives up.

Why Are People Complaining?

Some coaches and fans are upset:

• The coaches of Switzerland and Egypt said the referees made unfair calls.
• Egypt’s coach, Hossam Hassan, said his team was treated badly because soccer’s big system favors Messi and Argentina.
• Some fans online made up stories that the soccer governing body wants Argentina to win on purpose.
• Even the Egyptian Football Association said it “cannot remain silent” about what it called biased officiating.

The Switzerland Controversy

In the Switzerland game:

• The score was tied 1-1 after a Swiss goal.
• Leandro Paredes (Argentina) got a yellow card (a warning) for a tackle.
• Video showed the Swiss player fell before Paredes even touched him.
• Because that Swiss player already had a yellow card, he was sent off, leaving Switzerland with 10 players instead of 11.
• Swiss coach Murat Yakin said: “We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable.”

How Argentina Responded

At first, Argentina’s coach (Lionel Scaloni) told reporters asking about the complaints: “Don’t consume so much social media.”

But after beating England, the team spoke up:

• Messi said: “We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not… nothing was handed to us.”
• He also said reaching two finals in a row is something very few teams do.
• Enzo Fernández (who scored the tying goal) celebrated by cupping his ears and moving his fingers like “keep talking” to the critics.
• Scaloni said: “This talk of ‘help’ will always exist… With VAR today, it’s very difficult to get help… We knew there was no help.”

Important Point: VAR is a video system that helps referees check big decisions. Scaloni says with VAR, it’s hard for any team to secretly get help.

What’s Next?

Argentina will play Spain in the final on Sunday. If they win, they will be back-to-back World Cup champions.

Summary

Argentina keeps winning, often by coming back from behind. Critics say they get referee help, but Messi and the team say they earn every win. They beat England 2-1 after trailing late, celebrated big at home, and now face Spain for the title. Messi’s message is clear: “Nothing was handed to us.”

FAQ

1. What does “nothing was handed to us” mean?
It means Argentina believes they won their games through skill and hard work, not because referees or soccer bosses gave them unfair advantages.

2. What is VAR?
VAR stands for Video Assistant Referee. It is a TV-review system that lets referees watch replays to make sure they made the right call.

3. Why were Switzerland and Egypt angry?
They thought the referees made mistakes that helped Argentina, and they felt the soccer system favors Argentina.

4. Who do Argentina play next?
They play Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.

5. How did fans react to the England win?
Tens of thousands of fans went into the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate with joy.