Spain-Argentina: Agüero calls out Laporte before defusing the refereeing controversy

With less than 72 hours until kickoff of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium, tensions are rising. Aymeric Laporte, the central defender for La Roja, had stirred trouble by mentioning, in a press conference, a “special treatment” that Lionel Messi’s Albiceleste supposedly received during the tournament. A statement that immediately set social media and global media ablaze.

Sergio Agüero’s scathing response

Questioned by Spanish journalists, former Argentine striker Sergio Agüero did not mince his words. “Laporte would be better off focusing on his marking rather than playing provocateur. Argentina doesn’t need any referee to win, and we’ve proven that throughout the competition,” he said, visibly annoyed. This outburst, replayed endlessly by sports channels, threatened to sour the atmosphere ahead of the top clash.

A denial and explanation to calm things down

A few hours later, in a surprising turn, Sergio Agüero walked back his comments. “Hola amigos, I need to explain something to you. I spoke to Aymeric, he’s a friend. All of this was a joke between us. Don’t take this controversy seriously, let’s focus on what will be the best match of the year,” he wrote on his social media. An elegant way for the ‘Kun’ to defuse a media bomb that threatened to overshadow the final preparations.

This affair highlights the immense pressure surrounding this showdown. Lionel Scaloni and his Spanish counterpart will need to manage the psychological aspect of their respective groups. For his part, Aymeric Laporte, who knows the Argentine dressing room well from playing with Julian Alvarez at Manchester City, could be the target of South American fans’ chants next Sunday.

« “This kind of jab is common in top-level football. It’s more about reverse psychology than a real accusation. The Spanish dressing room is trying to unsettle a confident Argentina, but Agüero, as a former teammate of many players on both sides, knew how to strike the right tone to defuse the situation without losing face.” »

What did Aymeric Laporte accuse Argentina of before the final?

Aymeric Laporte insinuated that Argentina was benefiting from favorable refereeing during the 2026 World Cup, a statement that prompted an immediate reaction from Sergio Agüero.

Why did Sergio Agüero walk back his comments?

After severely calling out Laporte, Agüero explained it was a joke between friends to prevent the controversy from escalating too much before the match.

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Rédacteur en Chef

Moussa JDF

Rédacteur en chef et analyste de données sportives. Passionné par les tactiques et le mercato, je décortique l'actualité des grands championnats européens en temps réel pour vous offrir une information rapide, fiable et sans filtre.

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