Manchester United legend Gary Neville launched a scathing critique of Argentina's performance in the 2026 World Cup final, which they lost 1-0 to Spain, describing it as "a load of rubbish," insisting that only Lionel Messi's genius carried the Albiceleste to the decisive match.

Neville, 51, said on the "Stick to Football" podcast: "They played very badly, let's be clear. They played badly. What I mean is, if they managed to stay in the game, we should commend them. Well done, but they played poorly."

The former Valencia coach, who earned 85 caps for England, stressed that Argentina would not have reached the World Cup final for the second consecutive time without Messi, who scored 8 goals in the tournament, saying: "Argentina have great harmony and a fierce competitive spirit, and they have an amazing attacking player who helps them secure victory. Without him, they might have struggled to get there."

Neville did not back down from his harsh stance despite praising Argentina's fighting spirit, insisting: "If it looks bad and smells bad, it's bad frankly. What we saw in the final was a mediocre performance; they played badly at various times."

Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who earned 33 caps for England, admitted: "I'm glad Argentina didn't win, but also sad. I didn't like seeing Messi cry like that; it was clear how much it affected him," adding: "But I'm really happy for Spain."