Cristiano Ronaldo sparks controversy after liking post accusing FIFA of corruption

Did Cristiano Ronaldo accidentally like post accusing FIFA of 'corruption'?

Cristiano Ronaldo has ignited fresh controversy after reportedly liking a social media post that accused FIFA of corruption and favouring Argentina during the 2026 World Cup.

Screenshots circulated widely on social media showing the 41-year-old Portuguese forward's verified account among those who had liked a video from Spanish news channel Espejo Público. The video alleged that FIFA, described as "one of the most corrupt institutions on planet Earth", had helped Argentina remain in the competition. Although the like later disappeared from Ronaldo's account, the incident has sparked widespread discussion.

The video's presenter, Rodríguez Losantos, claimed that Argentina "should have been eliminated approximately five matches ago" and suggested Spain would face not only Argentina in the final but also FIFA president Gianni Infantino, alleging the governing body wanted Lionel Messi's side to advance. Ronaldo has not addressed the screenshots or explained the interaction.

A tournament marked by controversy

The 2026 World Cup, the first 48-team edition co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, has been surrounded by controversy from the outset. Critics pointed to several incidents involving Argentina that appeared to escape serious punishment during the tournament.

Most notably, Argentina players displayed a banner reading "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" (The Falklands are Argentinian) after their semifinal victory over England, in apparent violation of FIFA's Stadium Code of Conduct, which prohibits political banners. The display referenced the 1982 Falklands War between Britain and Argentina, a 74-day conflict that resulted in the deaths of 255 British servicemen, 649 Argentines and three island residents. Despite widespread criticism, FIFA took no immediate action against the team.

Spain claims the title

The tournament concluded on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to secure Spain's victory. Argentina played the entire extra period with 10 men after midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card in stoppage time at the end of regulation.

President Donald Trump attended the final and presented the 18-karat gold World Cup trophy to the Spanish team.

Post-match confrontation under investigation

The final was followed by ugly scenes on the pitch. FIFA has launched an investigation into post-match brawls, with video footage showing Argentina's Leandro Paredes appearing to grab Spain's Eric García by the throat after the final whistle, leading to scuffles between players from both sides.

Tournament-wide issues

Beyond Argentina-related controversies, the 2026 World Cup faced criticism on multiple fronts. FIFA's introduction of dynamic pricing for tickets drew widespread condemnation, with final tickets at MetLife Stadium reportedly reaching $11,000, triggering investigations by multiple US authorities.

Visa issues also plagued the tournament. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry to the United States despite holding a valid visa, as part of a travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries including Somalia and four qualified teams: Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Ivory Coast.

The tournament also saw the introduction of a new FIFA rule allowing referees to show red cards to players who cover their mouths during confrontations, aimed at preventing hidden abusive comments.

Ronaldo himself had earlier confirmed that the 2026 tournament would be his final World Cup appearance. Portugal was eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain, ending the veteran striker's hopes of adding a World Cup trophy to his collection of honours.