Latin America's unlikely football unity: cheering against Argentina

Argentina's Lionel Messi is a football legend, but lots of people across Latin America are hoping his team loses to Spain in the World Cup final (PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA)While Latin Americans have traditionally rallied behind football teams from the region who advance deep into the World Cup tournament, a flood of memes, jokes and criticism has made it clear there is one exception: Argentina.In one photoshopped pic that went viral, Lamine Yamal -- who leads Argentina's opponent, Spain -- is wearing a Brazilian jersey. The snarky caption?

"The hope of the Brazilian people."The fervor goes beyond the historic rivalry between Pele's Brazil and Diego Maradona's Argentina: Mexico, Colombia, Chile and others are all hoping Lionel Messi's Albiceleste bite the dust on Sunday. A similar phenomenon occurred before Argentina won its third World Cup title in 2022.

Colombian sociologist German Gomez told AFP that the "dynamic of solidarity ... has been broken" with Argentina.He said the digital era and social networks have fueled "narratives" that the team is a darling of football's world governing body FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino."

Argentina has had help from referees," said Francisco Santos, a Brazilian fan trading World Cup stickers at a shopping center in Sao Paulo, where cheers rang out when England scored first against Argentina in the semi-finals.If Brazil could not become six-time champions, "I would rather see Spain become two-time champions than Argentina become four-time champions," the 42-year-old said.Critics say Argentina has received more favorable calls such as penalties and yellow or red cards against opponents, even when such decisions have been backed by FIFA and experts."

We're going to cheer for Spain," said Juan Camilo Abusaid, a 28-year-old finance worker in Bogota.- 'Very political'-Antonio Lopez, 51, a police officer in Mexico City, described Messi as a "legend."But Lopez added: "If you're going to sweat and break your back on the pitch to beco