Former Uruguayan international, Diego Lugano, has accused football governing body, FIFA of helping Lionel Messi and Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, News About Nigeria reports.
Lugano said it is unbelievable for a team to record 4 to 5 penalties in the tournament, with which Messi scored four.
He added that the officiators of Argentina’s matches during the world’s biggest competition were forced to always blow in their favour, because of Messi’s global impact.
“That they [FIFA] gave him [Messi] help is no doubt. Argentina had its merit but of the 5 penalties, 4 I think no one has any doubt that they were not.”
“They [officiators] were totally forced, that is the reality. But that’s to the credit of Messi, who moves a lot worldwide.”
Lugano also added that FIFA wants to have Messi on the list of the World’s greatest sportsmen which includes big names like Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.
“You see [Mike] Tyson in the Messi shirt, you see Tiger Woods, you see Roger Federer. Do you think that FIFA does not see that and it does not work for them? The merit of Messi and later also the merit of Argentina, who knew how to take advantage of that.”
Messi, 35, won the Golden Ball at the tournament after scoring seven goals and registering three assists. Four out of these goals came from the penalty spot.
The next FIFA World Cup comes up in 2026 and will be hosted by three North American countries; USA, Canada and Mexico.
