Mac Allister dismisses Argentina conspiracy theories after World Cup final defeat

Alexis Mac Allister has rejected conspiracy theories surrounding Argentina’s performance in the 2026 World Cup final, saying the players know they gave everything despite their defeat by Spain.

Argentina were beaten after Spain dominated for 120 minutes, prompting some supporters to search for explanations beyond the pitch. Theories circulated on social media suggesting the players had been restricted, affected by an unknown factor or unable to show their usual enthusiasm during the final.

The calm demeanour of the Argentina squad and their lack of visible intensity against Spain were cited by some fans as possible evidence of something unusual. Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martinez and other members of the team rejected those claims in the months after the tournament.

Mac Allister has now also addressed the subject. Speaking to Argentine network TyC, the Liverpool midfielder said his family’s football background made it clear that such claims had no basis.

“I come from a football family, and we understand that these things do not exist,” he said.

Mac Allister added that social media had made it possible for people to make unsubstantiated statements without facing consequences.

“We live in a world today where anyone can say anything on social media without any punishment,” he said.

“People say whatever they want, but deep down we know what happened. We gave our best, and it is unfortunate that we did not win.”

The midfielder said Argentina were concentrating on the positive aspects of their campaign, while acknowledging that Spain had been the superior side in the final.

“We are focusing on the positives. It was a huge disappointment because we felt we were close, but Spain were much better and deserved to win,” he said.

Mac Allister denied that Argentina’s physical condition had been the main problem, instead pointing to Spain’s superiority in the football itself.

“The physical qualities were good, but not in terms of football, and that is where they made the difference,” he said.

He also identified mental fatigue following Argentina’s dramatic comeback against England in the semi-final as one of the reasons for the team’s subdued display.

The intensity of the tournament, with matches played every three days, had created a broader physical and psychological burden. Mac Allister said the semi-final had been particularly demanding because of the significance of the occasion and the way it had been handled in Argentina.

“I felt good, with the general fatigue that comes from playing every three days and the mental exhaustion,” he said.

“The match against England was extremely tense, and the period before it was intense because of the history and the way it is dealt with in our country. Perhaps that drained some of our energy.”