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The possible elimination of Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team from the 2026 World Cup would not only have sporting consequences, but it seems it could also harm FIFA financially. Amidst the controversy, a theory has emerged claiming that Gianni Infantino is worried about the Albiceleste being knocked out of the championship because it would directly affect the organization's finances. Is this true? We tell you what business connects the Argentine with FIFA and why it is so important.
A few days after the 2026 World Cup began, football fans started sharing their annoyance and discontent with certain actions and attitudes toward Messi. According to millions of internet users around the world, referees are favoring the team led by Lionel Scaloni with the goal of crowning them two-time champions.
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On this subject, in recent hours a theory has gained momentum suggesting that FIFA and Messi have several sponsors in common, and in the case of the world's football governing body, it has an agreement with Adidas that amounts to 800 million dollars, as reported by Yahoo! Sports. For his part, Messi has a lifetime contract with the German sportswear brand worth around 1 billion dollars.
Although FIFA has never officially stated that it depends on a single player, sports market analysts agree that Messi's presence increases global interest in the competition. Also, Argentina being eliminated and Messi leaving the World Cup could represent a hard blow to the tournament's commercial impact, as the Argentine captain remains one of the main magnets for viewership, sponsorship, and ticket sales.
But Adidas is not the only sponsor that Messi and FIFA share, as both have agreements with Lay's, Lego, and AB InBev. "They will do whatever is necessary to have the global brands of football at their main events, and the two main brands are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. FIFA decided, for example, to reduce Ronaldo's suspension before the tournament," noted Professor Kieran Maguire, a football finance expert at the University of Liverpool, to the media outlet HITC.
Likewise, experts assert that FIFA's desire to increase its revenue will cause thousands of fans to lose confidence in the organization and its leader, in this case, Gianni Infantino.
¿Por qué Lionel Messi sigue siendo tan importante para el futbol?
At 39 years old, Lionel Messi continues to be one of the most influential athletes on the planet. In addition to his achievements with Argentina and at the club level, he maintains an enormous impact on sports marketing, so his image continues to be one of the most valuable in world sports.
[Publicidad]