Argentina captain Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero has dismissed conspiracy theories surrounding his side’s reported 1–0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 North American World Cup final, insisting that nothing suspicious happened and that their opponents deserved to lift the trophy.

Speculation spread across social media following Argentina’s narrow loss, with some users questioning the circumstances of the result. Romero, however, has rejected the allegations, arguing that online platforms can turn baseless claims into viral talking points within minutes.

Speaking in comments reported by TyC Sports on Tuesday, 27 October, the defender said Spain had performed well enough to earn the title, while Argentina had struggled to cope with the physical demands of the tournament.

“Nothing happened in the final. Social media is a place where someone can write something ridiculous and it can go viral in an instant. Spain did their job properly. We barely survived,” Romero said.

He added that the competition had been physically demanding for his team, with several players struggling to remain fit throughout the tournament. Romero acknowledged that he, too, had found it difficult to get through the campaign.

Argentina battled a series of injuries

Romero pointed to a lengthy list of injury problems as one of the factors that made Argentina’s reported World Cup campaign particularly challenging. He said several members of the squad had continued playing despite physical setbacks, underlining the effort required to compete at the highest level.

Leandro Paredes had been dealing with a rib injury, while Romero himself was unable to train after the match against England because of a tendon problem. Lisandro Martínez, known as Licha, and Molina also faced physical difficulties. Nicolás Tagliafico was barely fit, according to Romero, while goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez played with a broken finger.

“We had to deal with injuries throughout the tournament. We had Paredes playing with a rib injury, something nobody talks about. I could not even train after the England match because of my tendon injury. Licha was in a similar situation, and so was Molina. Tagliafico was barely fit, while Dibu played with a broken finger. We gave everything we had,” he said.

The defender maintained that the players had made every possible effort to represent their country, regardless of their physical condition. For him, that commitment mattered more than the criticism circulating online.

“What people say does not matter to me. As long as I know within myself that I gave everything until the final minute, I can feel at peace,” Romero said.

Romero dismisses social media criticism

The Argentina captain also criticised people who create online content by attacking footballers, suggesting that some comments are driven more by the desire to attract attention than by a genuine assessment of performances.

He said he and his team-mates did not pay much attention to such remarks, adding that he had spent six or seven years with the national side and had consistently seen the squad give its best.

“People can say what they want. Someone who wants to make content may go out and say negative things about players. We do not listen to that sort of nonsense,” he said.

Romero’s comments reflect the tension that often follows major international finals, when disappointment can fuel speculation and criticism. His response, however, was straightforward: Argentina had faced considerable physical difficulties, but he saw no reason to question the outcome or deny Spain the credit he believed they deserved.

Defender thanks Scaloni for his trust

Romero also recalled the uncertainty surrounding his fitness before the tournament. A knee injury had left him fearing that he might miss the World Cup altogether, and he admitted that the possibility had overwhelmed him emotionally.

“When I injured my knee, I started crying. The first thing that came into my mind was that I was going to miss the World Cup. I thought the injury was much more serious,” he said.

A scan two days later showed a ligament problem. At that point, Romero believed he could potentially recover in time for the round of 16 or quarter-finals, depending on his progress.

He expressed particular gratitude to Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni for keeping faith in him during that difficult period. Romero suggested that another manager might have decided against including him in the squad, but Scaloni’s confidence gave him an opportunity to remain involved.

“First of all, I want to thank Scaloni for keeping me in the team. Another coach might have left me out from the beginning, but he trusted me,” Romero said.

The defender’s account highlighted the uncertainty players can face before a major tournament, when even an injury that does not rule them out immediately can threaten months of preparation and the chance to represent their country.

Romero says Messi remains the greatest

Romero also spoke about Lionel Messi, expressing admiration for the Argentina legend and reflecting on their time together in the national team.

He said he had not spoken to Messi since the forward’s departure from the national side. The two had regularly communicated while they were team-mates, and Romero admitted that the change still felt unusual.

The defender also questioned the influence of marketing and popularity in individual football awards, including the Ballon d’Or and the Super Ballon d’Or. In his view, recognition should reflect what players deliver on the pitch rather than their commercial appeal or social media following.

“The award has become somewhat dependent on marketing. Perhaps it goes to whoever has the most Instagram followers,” Romero said jokingly.

He argued that Messi’s quality had long been apparent to anyone watching him play, adding that the Argentine forward’s influence on a match set him apart from other footballers.

“Previously, you only had to sit in the stands and watch a match to understand what Leo was doing. Nobody could be compared with him. That is why he is the greatest of all time,” he said.

Romero also challenged the idea that winning the Champions League or the World Cup should automatically determine who receives an individual award. In his opinion, Messi’s contribution and influence on the pitch could not be measured solely by the trophies a player wins.

Asked whom he would choose for the award if Messi were excluded from consideration, Romero remained firm in his view.

“Messi. Even if that were not possible, I would still give it to him,” he said.

Through his remarks, Romero defended his team’s commitment, rejected the speculation surrounding the final and reaffirmed his belief that Messi’s influence on football places him above his contemporaries.