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In the midst of the final stretch of the 2026 World Cup, Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, became a trending topic again after an old comment in which he expressed his admiration for an Argentine soccer player resurfaced. The phrase "I adore him" began to circulate on social media, sparking a wave of reactions among fans who reopened the debate about the official's relationship with the Argentina National Team and Lionel Messi, who are currently in the middle of controversy following their round of 16 match against Egypt, in which the Albiceleste advanced to the next stage.
The admiration that Infantino once showed for an Argentine player resurfaces at a time when the FIFA president is being heavily criticized for allegedly showing favoritism toward Messi and his national team, especially because millions of fans questioned how the team led by Lionel Scaloni reached the quarterfinals, following a denied penalty for Egypt and controversial refereeing decisions.
Social media has been flooded with comments against 56-year-old Infantino, whom they accuse of deliberately supporting Messi and Argentina so that said team can be crowned two-time champion in the 2026 World Cup.
It is in the midst of all this controversy that some statements by Gianni Infantino regarding who his favorite player is and which is his favorite goal in World Cup history have resurfaced.
In an interview published in 2017 in the outlet La Nación, the FIFA president spoke about the passion he feels for Lionel Messi and Diego Armando Maradona. He shared that the first time he saw "Pelusa" play was on television, in the '82 World Cup. "It wasn't his best World Cup, but I still fell in love," commented Infantino.
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He added: "Everything and more. He has been an absolutely incredible player. What he did in Napoli, in Italy, but also with Argentina. He won titles alone, almost. He made the difference. Magical, magical... What Diego did for soccer is, for me, something that we all have to respect and that no executive or president would ever achieve. He made us fall in love with soccer; whether Argentine or not, fans of Napoli or not... It doesn't matter: we are all in love with him."
To the question about whether Maradona was the Argentine he trusted the most, he replied: "I adore Maradona. Absolutely. He is one of those legends who did so much for soccer and this must be respected. To me, he is an idol; I am his fan. And he is a friend, a friend."
Several years after these statements, Infantino once again showed his admiration for Maradona by choosing the second goal he scored against the English in the '86 World Cup in Mexico as the best in World Cup history. "The second one from Maradona against England. I couldn't have scored a more beautiful goal (...) some goals are simply unforgettable. A moment of genius, creativity, and courage that defined what soccer is about. A goal that couldn't have been more beautiful," he said.
[Publicidad]