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Formula 1 star says Messi’s shirt cannot be burned, and Spanish celebrations were “shameful”

Priya Nambiar | July 25, 2026 4:26 AM CST

Some Argentines, including Alpine Formula 1 driver Franco Colapinto, are still struggling to come to terms with the World Cup final defeat to Spain.

The newspaper “Sport” carried Colapinto’s remarks to ESPN, where he criticised the way the Spanish celebrated after beating Argentina, describing it as “shameful”.

He added: “The spread of Spanish shirts during the World Cup? Suddenly they started wearing them when they won, not before. It’s shameful.”

Colapinto then said: “They don’t even have songs to chant.” His comment was a clear reference to Argentina’s fan culture, which is well known for creating chants for the biggest occasions.

He also said he had heard about attempts to burn Messi’s shirt. The journalist then moved the discussion away, apparently sensing that it was heading into more sensitive territory.

The issue now appears almost like a battle between Argentina and Spain.

A media session before the Hungarian Grand Prix brought Colapinto together with the Spaniards Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, and the Alpine driver used the occasion to return to the topic of Spanish celebrations.

He said: “They are deserving champions, but I hope they improve their songs a little. They need to be more creative, as they were dull.”

Tensions had already risen between Spanish and Argentine fans after the match, and he addressed that as well. “We are two Latin countries, and that is wonderful, but there are differences that make it seem as though we are enemies.”

He continued: “Messi played for Barcelona and gave the Spanish fans many happy moments, but now it seems as if it is a war between two countries, and that is not nice. I don’t think burning Messi’s shirts is right.”

Colapinto was not the only Argentine to criticise the Spanish way of celebrating. Some at home feel it lacks the passion that fans there are used to.

Many in Spain see it differently. They say the style reflects greater awareness and self-control, without reducing the value of the achievement or the size of the joy at winning the title.