Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham shared a heated exchange during Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 victory over England, but the Three Lions midfielder has played down suggestions that the incident was anything more than an on-field discussion.
Television cameras captured Bellingham speaking animatedly to Messi during the match, sparking widespread reaction among fans. However, the England star insisted the conversation was simply about a foul and carried no bad blood.
According to softfootball sources Bellingham said:
The talk with Messi? We were discussing a foul, actually. It was nothing bad. I’m sure everyone will do their thing and make it a big deal but it was nothing.
I thought there was a foul earlier and he said: ‘What about the one on me?’ And I said: ‘You’re strong enough to take it,’ you know what I mean.
I’m obviously on the losing side which hurts a lot but it’s a privilege to line up against one of the best.
Argentina produced a stunning late comeback to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. After dominating much of the second half, the holders equalised before Lionel Messi delivered a pinpoint cross in stoppage time for Lautaro Martínez to head home the winning goal and seal a 2-1 victory over England.
