Bellingham's Provocative Words Spark Messi's Viral Reaction
WHO:
Nine.com.au - Jude Bellingham, Lionel Messi, England manager Thomas Tuchel, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, Egypt’s Hossam Hassan, ex-Socceroos captain Craig Foster, Australian goalkeeping great Mark Bosnich.
WHAT:
Nine.com.au - Jude Bellingham revealed that his exchange with Messi was about a foul, stating, “There were zero problems with Messi. We were talking about a foul, actually.”
Nine.com.au - Messi put Bellingham in a headlock during their verbal exchange.
Nine.com.au - The victory marked another remarkable comeback for Argentina, showing their perseverance as they are now one win from back-to-back titles.
Nine.com.au - Argentina won the World Cup semi-final against England 2-1.
Nine.com.au - Messi provided assists for Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez’s goals.
Nine.com.au - Messi stated, “We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not, and no matter what anyone says.”
Nine.com.au - Messi also said, “Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve, and this group did it.”
Nine.com.au - Messi is the leading goalscorer and assist provider in World Cup history.
WHERE:
Nine.com.au - The World Cup semi-final took place in Atlanta.
Nine.com.au - Celebrations occurred in the streets of Buenos Aires after Argentina's victory.
WHEN:
Nine.com.au - Argentina is set to face European champions Spain in the final on Monday.
WHY:
Nine.com.au - Egypt’s Hossam Hassan claimed that his team was a victim of a football establishment that favoured Messi and Argentina, fueling criticism from fans about the FIFA bracket favouring La Albiceleste.
Nine.com.au - Bellingham claimed there were “zero problems with Messi” and that their exchange was about a foul.
Nine.com.au - Argentina coach Scaloni mentioned that his players “smelled blood in the water” as England went ultra-defensive.
HOW:
Nine.com.au - Messi's notable reaction during the match became a viral moment on social media, with many users claiming that Bellingham had "paid the price for poking the bear."
Nine.com.au - Messi and Bellingham had a verbal exchange that led to Messi's notable reaction.
Nine.com.au - Argentina previously won against Cabo Verde and Switzerland in extra time and came back from being down 2-0 to win 3-2 against Egypt.
(UPDATED July 17, 2026 18:24 UTC)
Jude Bellingham shared that his recent exchange with Messi was simply about a foul, clarifying that there were no issues between them, despite Messi putting him in a headlock during the conversation. Argentina's latest victory showcased their incredible resilience, bringing them one win away from securing back-to-back titles, while Egypt's Hossam Hassan criticized the football establishment for allegedly favoring Messi and Argentina. This match sparked a viral moment on social media, with many users suggesting that Bellingham "paid the price for poking the bear."
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(UPDATED July 17, 2026 16:22 UTC)
Argentina triumphed over England in the World Cup semi-final, securing a 2-1 victory in Atlanta, with Lionel Messi assisting goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. Following the match, Messi emphasized Argentina's dominance over the past four years, stating, “We’ve been the best over these past four years, either you like it or not,” and highlighted the rarity of reaching two consecutive World Cup finals. Argentina will now face European champions Spain in the final on Monday, while celebrations erupted in the streets of Buenos Aires after their hard-fought win.