Lionel Messi explodes against referee after Otamendi–Rios clash in Argentina vs. Colombia

After a confrontation sparked with a clash between Nicolas Otamendi and Richard Rios, Lionel Messi exploded against the referee of the game between Argentina and Colombia, Juan Gabriel Benitez.

Argentina and Colombia squared off in a tense showdown in Buenos Aires on Matchday 16 of the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, ending in a 1–1 draw. Following the final whistle, tempers flared between Nicolas Otamendi and Richard Rios—and Lionel Messi sharply criticized the referee.

Tensions were already high before kickoff, especially after James Rodríguez suggested that Argentina had benefited from officiating decisions during the 2024 Copa América. The match featured several hard fouls, and Enzo Fernández was sent off after a reckless kick to Kevin Castaño’s head.

At the final whistle, Otamendi and Ríos—who had clashed earlier in the first half—found themselves in another heated exchange. The Argentine defender reportedly mocked Ríos’ appearance, shouting, “Take off that headband, clown.” Ríos fired back with a personal jab: “You’re old… you can’t even run anymore,” the Colombia midfielder retorted.

The altercation quickly drew players from both teams into a post-match melee. Argentina’s squad felt the referee, Juan Gabriel Benitez, had failed to control the match, allowing tensions to boil over throughout the night.

What did Messi say?

Messi, visibly frustrated, also took issue with Benítez’s performance. While he stayed clear of the on-field confrontation, he approached the referee directly after the game and accused him of igniting the conflict with poor officiating.

“This is your fault! You’re the one who caused all this, you’re the one who caused all this, with the decisions you made. You’re the one who sparked everything that happened,” Messi said to referee Benitez on his face.

The scene captured by the cameras on the field underscored the widespread frustration among Argentina’s players—not just with the result, but with how the match was officiated. In an interview with TyC Sports after the match, Otamendi echoed Messi’s remarks, opting not to comment on his spat with Ríos:

“It turned into a rough game that worked against us because with every 50-50 ball, every challenge, the referee always blew the whistle for them. What we need to do is play football, show on the pitch what kind of team we are, and keep building.”