Fans Flood Messi’s Player of the Match Post With Angry Reactions After Egypt vs Argentina

A photo of Lionel Messi posted on FIFA’s official Facebook account sparked a major wave of angry reactions after the Argentina captain was named Player of the Match following the dramatic World Cup Round of 16 clash with Egypt.

According to figures recorded during the first three hours after the post was published, more than 90,000 of approximately 145,000 total reactions were angry reactions.

The remarkable response reflected the scale of the controversy surrounding Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt.

More Than 90,000 Angry Reactions in Three Hours

The post celebrating Messi’s Player of the Match award quickly became a new platform for fans to express their frustration.

According to the figures circulating during the first three hours, the post attracted around 145,000 total reactions, with more than 90,000 users choosing the angry reaction.

The numbers were particularly striking because angry reactions represented more than half of the total engagement recorded at that stage.

However, the figures represent a specific moment in time and may continue to change as the post receives further engagement.

Fans Flood FIFA’s Post With Critical Comments

The backlash was not limited to reaction icons.

The comments section also featured widespread criticism of the refereeing and the events surrounding the match.

One fan wrote: “If you play against Argentina, you are playing against FIFA.”

Another supporter said it felt as though Argentina had an extra player on the pitch, referring to the referee.

The comments reflected the anger felt by a section of supporters following the dramatic conclusion to the match.

Why Was Messi Named Player of the Match?

Messi received the award after playing an important role in Argentina’s comeback.

Egypt had taken a stunning two-goal lead before Argentina fought back during the closing stages to win 3-2 and advance to the quarter-finals.

Messi played a major role in his team’s recovery and helped keep Argentina’s World Cup title hopes alive.

Despite his influence on the result, the decision to name him Player of the Match angered many fans because of the wider refereeing controversy surrounding the game.

Refereeing Controversy Overshadows Argentina’s Victory

The match featured several incidents that led to strong protests from the Egyptian side.

The controversy focused on a disallowed Egypt goal, penalty appeals and other decisions that the Egyptian coaching staff believed should have been reviewed differently.

Egypt also protested an incident shortly before Argentina’s decisive goal, arguing that play should have been stopped.

The decisions triggered a major debate over the use of VAR and the consistency of the refereeing.

Fans Accuse FIFA of Favoring Argentina

Many comments under the Messi post accused FIFA of favoring Argentina and its captain.

Some supporters claimed the refereeing decisions reflected preferential treatment, while others argued that the incidents were simply controversial mistakes in a difficult knockout match.

There is no official evidence proving deliberate bias or FIFA interference in the result.

The accusations therefore remain fan opinions and reactions rather than established facts.

However, the scale of the angry response showed that the controversy extended beyond Egyptian supporters and became an international debate.

Egypt FA Takes Official Action

The online backlash came as the Egyptian Football Association took official action over the match.

The federation filed a complaint with FIFA and requested a review of the refereeing team’s performance and the controversial decisions during the game.

The issue has therefore moved beyond social media reactions into an official process awaiting FIFA’s response.

Messi’s Photo Becomes a Symbol of the Controversy

Instead of becoming simply a celebration of Messi’s performance and Argentina’s qualification, the post quickly became one of the main outlets for fan anger after the match.

The high number of angry reactions demonstrated that the controversy continued long after the final whistle.

Between the refereeing debate, Egypt’s official complaint and the backlash over Messi’s Player of the Match award, the Egypt-Argentina clash is set to remain one of the most discussed matches of the 2026 World Cup.