Globally, in political and sports spheres, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become part of the buzz after he unequivocally stated he’s backing the Lionel Messi-led Argentina national football team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 that is currently underway across North America. Even though the South Americans are one of the most supported nations in global soccer for their title-defending stance, the Israeli Premier, in the same breath, made it clear his sporting preference was due to its geostrategic implications, not individual attachments. As the competition enters is into its rigorous phase where contenders battle it out for the championship in the knock-out rounds, many look forward to how the political diplomacy is seeping into world sports arenas.
Prime Minister Netanyahu Prefers President Javier Milei Over Football Icon Lionel Messi
The surprising revelation surfaced during a recent media appearance on the popular Israeli broadcast platform The Mojo Podcast hosted by comedian Ben Ben Baruch. When the podcast host directly questioned the Prime Minister about whether his enthusiastic support for the Albiceleste campaign was motivated by the presence of Messi, Netanyahu provided a firm negative response. The Israeli leader openly stated that his tournament preference is completely inspired by Argentine President Javier Milei, whom he highly regards as a true international champion.
Explaining the exact reasons behind this unexpected sporting allegiance during the broadcast interview, the Israeli Prime Minister laid out his perspective in clear terms:
“I look for Argentina. You know why? No, before that, they actually have a president who is a Chabad Hassid, by the way. He is a superstar; he really is, and he has done amazing things with their economy by adopting a free economy. We like to talk about that. But Milei is a great friend of Israel.”
🚨 BREAKING! 😳
Benjamin Netanyahu is supporting Argentina in World Cup 2026. 🇦🇷
🎥 @clashreport pic.twitter.com/x05QnZCuLd
— Polymarket FC (@PolymarketFC) July 9, 2026
Argentina Vs Switzerland Knockout Clash Prompts Surprising Political Backing
The timing of the political declaration coincides perfectly with a high-stakes quarter-final match as Argentina prepares to take on the Switzerland national football team in a massive knockout clash on July 11. While local sports analysts focus purely on tactical training sessions and pitch conditions, Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that tracking Argentina’s progress has become a regular family viewing routine.
