Krijgen Lionel Messi and Argentina a fine for political banner?

Argentina’s players celebrated their qualification for the World Cup final with a banner that read, literally translated, ‘The Falkland Islands are Argentine’. The display has sparked debate over whether Lionel Messi and his teammates will face a FIFA sanction for the political message. The banner, carried onto the pitch by supporters, bore the Dutch phrase “De Falklandeilanden zijn Argentijns”. The wording directly asserts Argentine sovereignty over the islands, a point of contention since the 1982 conflict with England. The reference to the 1982 war between Argentina and England underscores why the message remains highly sensitive, even on the football field. The Falkland Islands, a group of islands in the South Atlantic, are currently British overseas territory despite their proximity to the Argentine coast.

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Fans managed to smuggle the banner into the stadium, and the Argentine players lifted it from the crowd to showcase it during their post‑match celebration. The image of the banner was widely circulated in the media. FIFA’s statutes prohibit political statements inside stadiums, so a fine appears likely for the Argentine football federation. The governing body has previously warned that such displays breach its regulations.

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A similar incident occurred in 2014 when Argentina displayed a comparable banner before a friendly against Slovenia. The Argentine federation was then fined roughly €25,000 for the breach. The story was reported by Sven Van LonderseleSportjournalist for HLN16 on 16 July 2026. The article highlighted the phrase “Google-favoriet ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’” and noted that the banner read “De Falklandeilanden zijn Argentijns”. OOK, De report stressed the political charge of the message.