Cuti Romero took down Gary Neville after eliminating England: "When I retire, I hope I'm not that stupid"

The qualification of the Argentine National Team for the final of the 2026 World Cup also sparked a strong exchange off the field. Following the 2-1 victory over England, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez responded to the criticisms made by Gary Neville beforehand regarding the central duo of Lionel Scaloni's team.

The former Manchester United full-back, now a commentator on English television, had questioned the level of both defenders before the match. "I see no way we don't score at least two goals. I call them the best-worst center-back pairing in the world. They go from sublime to ridiculous. You have Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez who seem to give away a goal per game between them," he stated.

However, after the Argentine victory in Atlanta, Romero seized the opportunity to respond. Initially, he launched an irony directed at the English analysts: "We were angry because, otherwise, there’s a lot of talk. In England, they talk a lot before the match, so we send them a greeting; they must be very happy."

Then, the Tottenham defender was much more forceful and aimed directly at Neville. "All I hope is that when I retire, I’m not as stupid as Neville. Don’t come out criticizing a player. One goes in to do their best, and things can go well or badly. We are happy to be in a final and because we are making history," he shot back.

Next to him, Lisandro Martínez also responded to the questions, albeit in a more moderate tone. "We are used to it. They like to talk about us, and we talk on the field," said the Manchester United defender, who emphasized that the team's responses come through their performance on the pitch.

The statements from both came after another solid performance from the Argentine defense, which was key in sustaining the comeback and securing qualification for the second consecutive World Cup final under Scaloni's leadership. The victory rendered Neville's predictions ineffective and fueled a new chapter in the historic rivalry between Argentines and English.