Argentina president accuses Mexico, Brazil and US Democrats of financing World Cup campaign against team in stunning claim

Brazil has recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires after Argentina’s president, Javier ​Milei, used a trip to the country to ‌hit out at its leaders and judiciary.

He also claimed his nation’s football team faced a ‘campaign’ of criticism at the World Cup.

AFP

Milei arrived in Brazil last ​Friday to throw his support behind Senator Flavio ⁠Bolsonaro’s presidential run.

During his visit, the libertarian leader of Argentina used the words ‘convict’ and ‘thief’ in a stinging outburst, which many have interpreted at being aimed toward Brazil’s leftist incumbent president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Milei did not explicitly name his counterpart, but also said in an interview with Radio Mitre that the country was the subject of a negative ‘campaign’ financed by both Brazil and Mexico – Latin American countries with leftist leaders – and the Democratic party in the US.

“They’re the progressive leaders who don’t want the ideas of freedom to work,” he said, per The Associated Press.

Milei provided no evidence of such a campaign or its alleged funding to back up his remarkable claims, but appeared to be referring to criticism directed at Argentina’s team during the World Cup.

More Argentina drama

La Albiceleste were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the final, and the nation has since faced backlash for how they played at the tournament, and some of their actions off the pitch.

Many slammed Argentina for playing negative football en-route to the final, while a row broke out over the Falkland Islands following a semi-final win over England.

To cap the turbulent summer, Leandro Paredes sparked a brawl at the end of the World Cup final, by appearing to throw a punch at the final whistle.

Other Argentina players were described as ‘classless’ for turning their backs on Spain’s celebrations as they lifted the trophy.

President Milei has been vocal about criticism of his national team in recent days, and has already suggested that much of the backlash against Lionel Messi and his teammates comes down to ‘jealousy’.

Getty

Getty

“The problem with Argentina is that we are flashy, we don’t go unnoticed, people are jealous of us, and we are good at almost everything,” he claimed last week.

“I’m sorry, but someone had to say it.”

Brazil recalls ambassador to Argentina over Javier ​Milei claims

Milei’s claims about Brazil, though, cause a storm that goes far beyond football.

In his second visit to ​the country, he backed Senator ⁠Bolsonaro in a bid to unseat President Lula.

Bolsonaro is the eldest son of Brazil’s jailed ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to more than 27 years for plotting a coup aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to Lula.

Speaking alongside his political ally in Sao Paulo, Milei ​called the incumbent president a ‘convict’ and labelled the Brazilian government ‘thieving socialists.’

AFP

Brazil made the decision to recall envoy Julio Bitelli on Sunday morning, after foreign ​minister Mauro ​Vieira consulted ⁠with Lula.

The Brazilian government views ​Milei’s remarks as a ‘direct affront.’