English midfielder Jude Bellingham detailed the intense debate he had with Lionel Messi during the match in which England lost 2-1 to Argentina, on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, in the World Cup semi-final. He stated that the disagreement occurred due to a disagreement over a foul call, ensuring that there was no personal friction between the athletes.
The images of the match recorded the two athletes in a heated exchange of words in the first half. After the confrontation, the Real Madrid player sought to minimize what happened, emphasizing the competitive nature of football and the importance of clarifying misunderstandings that arise in moments of high pressure in a tournament of such relevance.
Asked about the dialogue with Messi, Bellingham clarified that “in fact, we were discussing a foul. It was nothing bad. I’m sure everyone will turn it into a big issue, but it was nothing,” explained the athlete.
The England midfielder also revealed details of what was discussed. Bellingham defended the idea that a previous infraction had not been reported, while Messi, in turn, complained about a play that directly involved him.
“I thought there had been a foul before, and he said, ‘What about the foul they did to me?’. So I said, ‘You’re strong enough to take it,’ you know what I mean?” Bellingham narrated about the interaction.
Despite the disagreement during the match, Bellingham made a point of expressing his admiration for Argentina’s number 10. The player, visibly affected by his elimination, described the opportunity to face Messi on the pitch as a privilege.
After the end of the match, Bellingham showed emotion when commenting on the new elimination of the English team. The athlete deeply regretted not being able to participate in a team that broke the team’s long drought, which had not won the World Cup title since 1966.
“It’s devastating. I wanted to be part of the England team that would finally make it. To be here telling the fans the same things they’ve probably heard for many, many years is really painful. I’m sorry,” he said, expressing his regret.
