Fans provoked Messi during Paraguay vs Argentina match by chanting Ronaldo’s name

The World Cup 2026 qualifier between Paraguay and Argentina in the South American zone turned out to be a frustrating experience for Lionel Messi. The legendary World Cup champion’s team suffered a 2-1 defeat, and the forward criticized the referees' performance after the match.

This reaction may have been influenced by the behavior of fans in the stands. Paraguay supporters repeatedly chanted “Ronaldo” during the game.

Some fans attended the match wearing Portugal national team jerseys with Cristiano Ronaldo's name on the back.

According to analytical platforms that rate players after every match, Messi’s performance against Paraguay was one of his poorest in the past two months. The fans’ antics might have played a role in his underwhelming display.

Interestingly, this trend began in Saudi Arabia, where fans attending matches featuring Cristiano Ronaldo would chant Messi’s name as a provocation.