Lionel Messi’s popularity plunges among British fans after 2026 World Cup controversy

Lionel Messi’s standing with British football fans has suffered a sharp decline, with almost half of respondents in a new UK poll viewing the Argentina captain negatively following a highly contentious 2026 World Cup campaign.

A survey conducted by polling firm YouGov, and reported by the British newspaper the Daily Mail, found that Messi’s public image in the UK has been damaged by Argentina’s behaviour at the tournament, which ended with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final.

The poll indicates that a significant proportion of British respondents now hold an unfavourable opinion of the Inter Miami forward, despite his enduring status as one of the world’s most famous and decorated footballers.

‘Disgraceful’ World Cup behaviour blamed

According to the Daily Mail, the drop in Messi’s popularity has been linked to what the paper described as the Argentina team’s “disgraceful and unjustified behaviour” during the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina’s run to the final was overshadowed by a series of flashpoints and allegations. The YouGov findings suggest that many British fans were put off not only by Argentina’s style of play, but also by conduct on and off the ball.

The tournament campaign was marred by claims of overly aggressive challenges, attempts to provoke opponents, and confrontations that spilled over after the final whistle of several matches.

These incidents, the survey suggests, collectively shaped a more negative perception of Messi, as captain and symbolic leader of the national side, among the UK public.

England elimination fuels backlash

Tensions were heightened by Argentina’s dramatic semi-final victory over England, a result that appears to have amplified British frustration with Messi and his team.

Argentina knocked England out of the World Cup with a 2-1 win in the 2026 semi-final, scoring twice in the dying minutes to overturn a 1-0 deficit. The late comeback was hailed by some neutrals as a remarkable sporting twist, but for many England supporters it proved a bitter defeat.

The manner of the loss, combined with the wider controversies surrounding Argentina’s conduct at the tournament, seems to have contributed to the cooling of attitudes towards Messi across the UK.

Global icon, local scepticism

Despite the backlash reflected in the YouGov poll, Messi remains one of the most recognisable figures in world sport. His achievements with Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina have cemented his place among the all-time greats of the game.

However, the survey results point to a clear shift in how he is viewed by a substantial slice of the British public. Once widely admired in the UK for his technical brilliance and relatively low-key persona off the pitch, Messi is now increasingly associated, in British eyes, with Argentina’s more combative and confrontational side.

YouGov’s findings underline how quickly public opinion can turn in the modern game, particularly when major tournaments are accompanied by controversy and high-profile clashes with national teams such as England.

While Messi’s global fanbase remains huge, the data suggests that his relationship with British supporters has entered a more complex phase – one shaped as much by World Cup drama and national rivalry as by his extraordinary footballing talent.