After the end of the 2026 World Cup, various public figures spoke out about the finalist teams and many others joined the reprehensible anti-Argentina campaign.
The crowning of Spain in the decisive match also exposed marked positions among celebrities, who aligned themselves with both the European team and Argentina, which reached the final for the second consecutive edition after the title won in Qatar.
In the lead-up to the match, some messages sparked controversy, but the impact continued even after the result was confirmed.
In this context, one of the posts that generated the most backlash was from American actor Samuel L. Jackson, who shared a critical and false message about Argentina that quickly went viral.
Samuel L. Jackson
The outrageous message from Jackson
Known for his roles in productions like Pulp Fiction and the Avengers saga, the actor shared a completely reprehensible and offensive post against Argentina.
The post included an image of a character he portrayed in the film Django Unchained, directed by Quentin Tarantino, where he appears wearing the Argentine national team jersey.
The film is set on a cotton plantation in the late 19th century, where Jackson's role is that of a man tasked with overseeing enslaved people.
On that image, the message stated: “Please do not support or cheer for Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup. Argentina has historically been one of the most racist countries in the world, if not the most. If you are a Black person and you support Argentina, this is how you look to me.”
The post by Samuel L. Jackson
The post generated an immediate reaction on social media, where users questioned both the content and the generalization made. Among the responses, criticisms highlighted the racial issues in the United States and the implicit comparison with Argentina.
Several comments pointed out that the actor was born in a country with a history of institutionalized racial segregation.
In this regard, some users responded: “You are American. There was no segregation here. Are you kidding me?“; ”The guy was born in 1948. Segregation in his country was abolished in 1960. So until he was 12, they treated his people as second-class citizens just because of their skin color. But we are the racists"; “Is he stupid, an idiot, or what? Plus, he’s an older guy, not a teenager watching TikTok.”
Additionally, some responses mentioned historical processes related to internal conflicts in the United States, where slavery was a central issue in disputes that led to a civil war.
The controversy remained active on social media even after the World Cup ended, highlighting how the sporting event not only generated repercussions in football but also in the social and cultural sphere.
Jackson's post thus became one of the most discussed episodes in the digital space following the final match between Spain and Argentina.