Argentina was having enough of a rough week after watching their national team’s decisive defeat in the World Cup final and tears from Lionel Messi. Then came what felt like an enormous, persistent wave of global hatred against their nation.

Fans of opposing teams, celebrities of all kinds and a surge of social media users were directing their scorn not only at the Argentine team but at the country as a whole — turning the celebrated champions of the 2022 World Cup into the villains of 2026.

“We lost, and now we’re being called every name under the sun,” said Mercedes Maspero, an Argentine researcher.

In part, the animosity was fueled by speculation that Argentina had received favorable treatment from soccer’s global governing body, FIFA, and by the team’s sometimes aggressive style of play.

Then there was the post-match brawl after Sunday’s final, in which several Argentine players and staff attacked Spanish opponents.

The criticism was also linked to off-field behavior during the tournament, including Argentine players captured on video singing a racist chant about French players in 2024, an incident that critics resurfaced this year. An Argentine fan also apparently directed racist abuse at IShowSpeed, a Black streamer and social media influencer.