Many Black Americans were not cheering Spain's complicated history during the World Cup final. They were rooting against the racism, politics, and silence associated with Argentina, according to Etan Thomas.
Rooting Against Argentina: A Pattern of Racism
For many Black Americans, the final between Spain and Argentina was not about supporting Spain's colonial legacy but rejecting Argentina's repeated racist incidents. Videos circulated of Argentinian fans hurling racial epithets at Black people, and members of the national team sang a racist chant targeting France's Black players after winning Copa América. Additionally, a hamburger business in Llavallol, Argentina, uses a racial slur in its official name. Argentina's president Javier Milei aligns with Donald Trump and supports Israel amid the Gaza conflict, further alienating Black American viewers.
Lionel Messi's Silence on Racism
Lionel Messi, despite his football brilliance, never publicly condemned the racist incidents involving his fanbase or addressed the racist chant after Copa América. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "A time comes when silence is betrayal." Messi's silence contrasts with younger players like Lamine Yamal, who expressed solidarity with Palestine, and Nico Williams, whose mother walked 2,000 miles from Ghana to Spain for a better life.
Spain's Diverse Team as a Symbol
Spain's victory represented a modern, diverse nation shaped by immigrant families. Lamine Yamal, who grew up in a tiny apartment, and Nico Williams, whose mother sacrificed everything, embodied possibility. After the match, Yamal knelt in prayer, showing composure over confrontation. For many, supporting Spain was not an endorsement of its history but a rejection of what Argentina had come to represent: racism, political alignment, and silence.
Sports and Politics: The Double Standard
Black Americans recognize a pattern: athletes are told to "shut up and dribble" when they speak out against racism, but silence is expected. As Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf said, "What you do speaks so loudly in my ears that I can't hear a word you're saying." This World Cup became about more than goals; it was about values, character, and the choice between silence and conviction.
