Does FIFA Want to Keep Lionel Messi in the World Cup?

Does FIFA have a financial incentive to keep Lionel Messi in the World Cup? Messi isn’t just football’s biggest star — he’s one of its biggest commercial assets. With broadcasting, sponsorships, and dynamic ticket pricing driving billions in World Cup revenue, every additional Messi match has the potential to increase audience demand and commercial value. Some fans and analysts have pointed to refereeing statistics, noting that Argentina received yellow cards at a much lower rate than many other teams, while several controversial decisions during the tournament — including a largely disputed win against Egypt in the Round of 16 — sparked accusations of bias. None of this proves corruption, or that financial incentives influence officiating. But when the financial stakes are this high, it’s easy to see why so many fans are questioning whether it is all just coincidence.