Latin Americans have traditionally rallied behind football teams from the region that advance deep into the FIFA World Cup, but a wave of memes, jokes and criticism has underscored one notable exception: Argentina, according to Al Jazeera.

One viral, photoshopped image showed Spain winger Lamine Yamal wearing a Brazil jersey, accompanied by the caption: “The hope of the Brazilian people.” Beyond the historic rivalry between Pele’s Brazil and Diego Maradona’s Argentina, fans in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and elsewhere have also voiced hopes that Lionel Messi’s Argentina will lose Sunday’s final.

A similar sentiment emerged before Argentina won their third World Cup title in Qatar in 2022.

Colombian sociologist German Gomez said the “dynamic of solidarity … has been broken” with Argentina.

He said social media had fuelled narratives portraying Argentina as a favourite of FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino.

“Argentina has had help from referees,” Francisco Santos, a Brazilian fan trading World Cup stickers at a shopping centre in Sao Paulo, told Al Jazeera, recalling cheers when England scored first against Argentina in the semifinal.

“If Brazil could not become six-time champions, I would rather see Spain become two-time champions than Argentina become four-time champions,” the 42-year-old said.

Critics have argued Argentina benefited from favourable refereeing decisions, including penalties and disciplinary calls against opponents, despite FIFA and refereeing experts backing many of those decisions.

“We’re going to cheer for Spain,” Juan Camilo Abusaid, a 28-year-old finance worker in Bogota, told Al Jazeera.

Mexican police officer Antonio Lopez described Messi as a “legend” but questioned Argentina’s success.

“If you’re going to sweat and break your back on the pitch to become champions twice, I accept that. If referees are going to help you, I don’t,” he told Al Jazeera.

At a news conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum jokingly asked reporters which team they were supporting in the final.

“Spain! Spain!” they replied.

Mexican anthropology professor Jorge Negroe, who specialises in the social study of sport, told Al Jazeera that “this World Cup has proven to be very political.”

Gomez said perceptions of Messi differed from those of the late Diego Maradona, who was widely viewed as a revolutionary challenging FIFA’s power, while Messi was now seen in some narratives as FIFA’s “golden boy.”

National politics has also fuelled resentment.

“I really don’t like Javier Milei (Argentina’s president) at all,” Rachid Sjoberg, a 29-year-old agricultural laboratory operator in Santiago, told Al Jazeera.

“The idea that he would then boast about having won the World Cup if they win does not sit well with me.”

Argentina’s players and fans have also faced accusations of racism, including criticism over a chant mocking Black players in the French national team and a history of racist incidents involving club supporters.

During the World Cup, FIFA condemned racism after an Argentine supporter told Black U.S. influencer IShowSpeed to “go cry at the zoo” during a livestream.

Messi acknowledged the strong reactions surrounding Argentina’s campaign.

“Four years ago, we achieved what we wanted: to play the final and be the best for four years. Once again, we have shown that nobody gives us anything for free, and we have put ourselves among the two best again,” he said.

“Let it hurt whoever it hurts.”

A fernet brand popular in Argentina has capitalised on the anti-Argentina sentiment with an advertising campaign under the slogan, “We are unbearable,” featuring supporters from different countries in a therapy circle complaining about Argentina’s passion for football.

Despite opposition from many fans across Latin America, Argentina have drawn enthusiastic support at training camps in the United States, where supporters have repeatedly chanted “Messi! Messi!”

Some fans, however, continue to back regional solidarity.

“I’m going to support Argentina because it’s a South American country,” Valentino Tocto, a 20-year-old student in Lima, told Al Jazeera.