Messi’s wife shares fiery message backing Argentina after World Cup final loss to Spain

Antonela Roccuzzo has broken her silence with a forceful show of support for Argentina and Lionel Messi after the national team’s 1-0 defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final triggered a wave of criticism at home.

Messi’s wife took to Instagram to give her unequivocal backing to the Albiceleste, reposting a strongly worded message from Argentine writer and broadcaster Connie Ansaldi that pushed back against what was seen as excessive backlash towards the squad.

“I’m proud to be Argentine. Argentina is just like a family; we might disagree and argue among ourselves, but if someone from outside comes and has a go at us, we’ll rip his liver out,” read the post shared by Roccuzzo.

The message was widely interpreted as a robust response to the domestic and international scrutiny that followed Argentina’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final, and to the confrontations and flashpoints that occurred in the immediate aftermath of the match.

Response to criticism after World Cup final

The 2026 World Cup final defeat, settled by a single goal in favour of Spain, had led to intense debate in Argentina over the team’s performance and behaviour, with players and staff facing heavy criticism from sections of the media and on social platforms.

Roccuzzo’s repost marked the first clear and public intervention from Messi’s family camp since the final, signalling a firm defence of both the forward and his team-mates amid the fallout.

Her decision to highlight Ansaldi’s words was seen as aligning herself with Argentines who, while acknowledging internal disagreements, believe external attacks on the national team have gone too far.

Further show of support from Rosario

After returning with her family to Rosario, her and Messi’s hometown, Roccuzzo continued to engage with messages backing the national side and celebrating Argentine identity.

She reacted to a post by Argentine singer Maria Becerra, who had performed the national anthem before kick-off in the final, further underscoring her solidarity with the team and those associated with it.

Commenting on Becerra’s post, Roccuzzo wrote: “May Argentina forever remain a country of great possibilities,” a line that reinforced her positive and patriotic stance at a time of heated argument and media sparring following the end of the global showpiece.

The remarks, reported by French outlet RMC Sport, have been widely shared in Argentina, where debate continues over the World Cup campaign, the narrow loss to Spain and the conduct of players and supporters around the final.

While Messi himself has not publicly addressed Roccuzzo’s posts, her intervention has added a powerful personal voice to the discussion, reflecting both the pride and sensitivity that surround the national team after one of the most emotionally charged defeats in its recent history.