Controversy! Ronaldo likes Insta post claiming FIFA helped Argentina reach final
Cristiano Ronaldo faced backlash after his Instagram account liked a post criticizing FIFA and alleging bias in favor of Argentina during the 2026 World Cup. The incident adds to a series of controversies surrounding the tournament.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of athlete influence, social media behavior, and the intense scrutiny of international sports governance.
NEW DELHI: Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the centre of a fresh FIFA World Cup 2026 controversy after his verified Instagram account liked a post that accused FIFA of helping Lionel Messi's Argentina reach the final. The incident has added to a tournament that has already seen several controversies, including protests involving Iran, criticism over ticket prices, visa issues, Balogun's suspended red card and US President Donald Trump's intervention.Ronaldo has not publicly explained why he liked the post, but screenshots showing his verified account, @cristiano, among those who liked the video quickly spread across social media.The Instagram reel was posted by the account of Spanish television programme Espejo Público before the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.The video featured journalist Pilar Rodríguez Losantos, who questioned Argentina's journey to the final and made strong allegations against FIFA.She said: "Argentina are a team who should have been eliminated approximately five…
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