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Cristiano Ronaldo has rekindled his long-running rivalry with Lionel Messi after he reportedly liked an Instagram video accusing FIFA of corruption and claiming the organization helped Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final, Yahoo Sports reports.
The interaction immediately caught fans’ attention because Ronaldo did not comment publicly on the explosive accusations.
However, his apparent approval of the position was enough to draw him into the controversy surrounding the Argentina tournament and FIFA’s handling of several disputed refereeing decisions.
The controversial video reportedly compiled accusations against FIFA and argued that Argentina benefited from favorable treatment throughout the World Cup.
Screenshots circulating online appeared to show that Ronaldo’s verified Instagram account liked the post. Some fans have since interpreted the interaction as a subtle jab at Messi and the organization that governs international soccer.
Ronaldo has not explained why he liked the video nor has he confirmed that he agrees with all the accusations it contains. An Instagram Like also does not prove any of the corruption or match-fixing allegations raised in the clip.
Still, given the decades-long battle between Ronaldo and Messi for soccer supremacy, the interaction carried additional weight. Both played in their last World Cup in 2026, but only Messi and Argentina advanced to the championship match, where Spain defeated the defending champions 1-0 in extra time.
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Accusations that officials favored Argentina intensified after the team’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16.
Egypt led 2-0 before Argentina completed a stunning late comeback. However, the match featured multiple disputed decisions, including a Mostafa Zico goal that was disallowed following a video assistant referee review and a late penalty appeal by Egypt that was rejected shortly before Argentina scored the winning goal.
The Egyptian Football Association subsequently filed a formal complaint with FIFA questioning the refereeing, HuffPost reported. “The defense of the rights and interests of the Egyptian team is not a matter that can be ignored, minimized or treated as secondary,” the EFA stated. “It is a responsibility that we assume with full conviction and determination.”
Several former players and commentators also questioned the consistency of the decisions, while critics began using the term “VARgentina” to claim that the review system was helping Messi’s team.
FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina rejected suggestions of bias, and Argentine defender Lisandro Martínez defended tournament officials, calling their work “excellent.” No evidence has shown that FIFA deliberately manipulated matches to advance Argentina.
