Hours after Argentina lost 1-0 in extra time to Spain in the World Cup final, social media erupted with wild claims that Lionel Messi he had stopped following his colleague Enzo Fernandez on Instagram following a heated locker room brawl. The rumor spread like wildfire, adding fuel to an already emotional night for the Albiceleste.
The rumors stemmed from a post on X that claimed Messi went into the dressing room and blamed Fernández for the defeat after Fernandez’s final red card. Argentina up to 10 men. “Lionel Messi has unfollowed Enzo Fernandez on Instagram after a heated argument between the two Argentines in the dressing room shortly after losing the match. World Cup final against Spainreports say Messi angrily stormed into the dressing room and accused Fernandez of being the cause of their loss due to his red card towards the end of the game,” the publication claimed.
With more than 5,50,000 views, gossip quickly divided fans. Some supported Messi, while others condemned the act. “Messi calling his teammate right after the final? That’s not leadership, that’s selfish,” one user wrote. Another added, “Why are they letting this loss get to their heads like this, it’s just a football game guys!”
Lionel Messi has unfollowed Enzo Fernandez on Instagram after a heated argument between the two Argentines in the dressing room shortly after losing the World Cup final against Spain, reports say Messi angrily entered the dressing room and accused Fernandez of being… pic.twitter.com/KaArl3N0Al
– Mardiyyah ❤️💐 (@iam_Mardiyyah) July 20, 2026
Fact: Is it true that Messi stopped following him?
Despite the shock, the claim did not last. Independent verification confirmed that Messi is still following Fernandez Instagramwhile the midfielder remains among the 368 accounts that the Argentine captain continues to monitor. The screenshot that sparked the discussion appears to be misleading at best.
The red card that changed everything
While the drama of the no-go may have been fictional, Fernandez’s red card was real and very costly. Having been booked twice in a row, the Chelsea midfielder was sent off late on for a foul. Pau Cubarsi. Argentina were forced to play the rest of extra time from the bottom, which Spain eventually capitalized on through a Ferran Torres header.
Enzo breaks his silence
A day later, Fernandez finally spoke, but not in the way many expected. “As time goes by, you realize there is something greater than results. Over the years, this group has represented our country in the best possible way,” he wrote on Instagram. “It teaches that competition is not just winning, but giving everything to the shirt and never giving up.”
Notably, the midfielder did not directly mention his red card, instead he focused on pride, unity and gratitude to the Argentine fans.
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