Polish referee Szymon Marciniak lifts Algeria defender Aissa Mandi as he reacts in pain next to Argentina forward Lionel Messi during the first round of matches of the 2026 World Cup. Messi was not penalised for a clear foul that could have easily seen another player sent packing.
Lionel Messi's enduring brilliance has helped carry Argentina into a blockbuster FIFA World Cup semi-final with England in Atlanta on Wednesday.
But the defending champions' journey to the last four has been engulfed by online conspiracy theories claiming — without a shred of evidence — that the playing field has been tilted heavily in their favour.
Social media is currently awash with AI-generated videos and memes amplifying this narrative. These range from absurd depictions of FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Messi sharing a loving embrace on the deck of the Titanic in the style of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, to Infantino's face being superimposed at the heart of the Sun of May at the centre of Argentina's flag.
From contentious refereeing decisions to accusations of being handed a remarkably kind draw to the final, AFP breaks down the main incidents that have fuelled the conspiracy theories:
