"Do Footballers Know About the Economy?"... President Reacts Strongly to Messi’s Remarks on Citizens’ Economic Hardships

Messi: "Some People Cannot Make It to the End of the Month"

Presidential Office Rebuts: "Economic Indicators Are Improving"

After the World Cup semifinal match, 'football god' Lionel Messi mentioned the economic hardships faced by the Argentine people, prompting a public rebuttal from the administration of President Javier Milei. The controversy has now expanded beyond football into debates about the economy and politics.

On July 15 (local time), after defeating England 2-1 and securing a place in the final of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, Messi reflected on the national team’s achievements in an interview. He said, "Over the past four years, we have shown our best and everything we have accomplished so far is a result we fought for on the field ourselves, without anyone’s help."

The 'football god' Lionel Messi's remarks about the economic hardships faced by the Argentine people are spreading as a controversy in economics and politics. Yonhap News Agency

He added, "This victory means more than just a match," emphasizing, "It’s the outcome that all Argentinians desperately wanted, and from the moment the national anthem played, I felt an overwhelming emotion."

Messi stated, "I am well aware that there are people without jobs or who find it difficult to get by until the end of the month on their salary alone," adding, "The fact that we can bring even a brief moment of happiness to the people holds great meaning for the entire national team."

The expression Messi used — "can’t hold out until the end of the month" — is also known as a widely used idiom in Argentina symbolizing economic hardship.

His remarks were seen as referencing the harsh realities faced by Argentine citizens, who have suffered for a prolonged period due to high inflation and economic stagnation. Messi similarly commented after the 2021 Copa America win and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, saying it was meaningful to bring joy and hope to the people during economic difficulties.

In response, Adrian Rabier, spokesperson for the Presidential Office of Argentina, publicly disputed Messi’s statement in a July 17 interview, saying, "The government does not agree with the assessment that people cannot get by for a month on their salary alone."

Javier Milei, President of Argentina. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Milei also added fuel to the controversy in a radio interview by suggesting, "How much do football players know about the economy?" Although he did not mention Messi by name, local media widely interpreted his remarks as targeting Messi.

Since taking office in December 2023, the Milei administration has pushed forward with aggressive austerity policies, focusing on economic reform. The government claims it has managed to lower the triple-digit annual inflation rate to around 30% recently, and says macroeconomic indicators have improved, citing last year’s 4.4% economic growth rate.

However, opposition parties and experts point out that ordinary citizens still feel economic hardship due to a decline in real wages and shrinking consumer spending.

Meanwhile, as defending World Cup champions, Argentina will face Spain in the final of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup in New Jersey, USA, on July 20 (Korea Standard Time).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.