Ahead of the 2026 World Cup final, center-back Aymeric Laporte spoke out about Argentina’s aggressive style of play and suggested that the refereeing has been somewhat biased toward Lionel Messi and his teammates.
The atmosphere ahead of the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina became heated following notable remarks from Aymeric Laporte. The 32-year-old center-back candidly addressed the opponent’s high-contact style of play, while emphasizing the referee’s responsibility in controlling situations that cross the line.
In an interview with MARCA, Laporte asserted that he does not oppose aggressiveness if the challenges remain within the framework of football rules.
“I am completely unconcerned about aggressiveness if it stays within the scope of football and the referee does their job correctly. But it is true that in recent matches, we have witnessed many things that left us extremely surprised, situations that were overlooked. Especially with Argentina, a team that often leaves quite a lot of ‘messages’,” Laporte shared.
The phrase “messages” is translated from “deja muchos recados” in Spanish, typically used to refer to hard tackles, collisions, or underhanded tactics meant to intimidate the opponent. Laporte did not specify any situation or Argentine player, but argued that such actions can directly impact the playing mentality.
“That should not be allowed in football, especially in major tournaments like this, because it can cause you to lose psychological balance and lose your temper. The referee’s duty is to control those situations so as not to be overwhelmed by the players,” the Spanish center-back added.
Laporte also placed Spain’s style of play in contrast to the aggressiveness he saw from Argentina. According to the defender on Athletic Bilbao’s payroll, Luis de la Fuente’s team has maintained a relatively measured approach since the beginning of the tournament.
“From the very beginning of the tournament, we have played quite decently in this aspect. Spain is not a team that intentionally kicks opponents or commits uncontrolled fouls. I think we also need to approach the next match that way. However, it is true that everything will depend heavily on the refereeing,” Laporte emphasized.
The above statement does not mean Laporte is accusing FIFA or the referees of intentionally favoring Argentina. The Spanish center-back mainly wanted to mention the boundary between aggressive play and underhanded tactics, thereby sending a direct message to Slavko Vinčić—the man assigned by FIFA to officiate the final.
With the nature of a match deciding the world championship, the ability to control emotions can be just as important as tactical calculations. Laporte’s words therefore make the confrontation between the two continental champions highly anticipated even before the opening whistle.
