If you've been following World Cup memes lately, you've probably noticed that Argentinian star Lionel Messi and FIFA President Gianni Infantino keep appearing together in increasingly absurd edits.
Whether they're photoshopped into movie posters, AI-generated videos or exaggerated romantic scenarios, the pair have become the subject of one of football's biggest running jokes over the last several years.
Known as the "Lionel Messi and Gianni Infantino" meme, the format pokes fun at long-running conspiracy theories claiming FIFA favors Argentina and its star player.
But where did these jokes and memes come from, and why did they become so widespread during the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Let's explain.
Where Do The 'Lionel Messi And Gianni Infantino' Memes Come From?
The memes trace back to conspiracy theories that emerged after Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which concluded in December of that year.
Following the tournament, some football (or soccer) fans accused FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, of favoring Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team, alleging that the competition had been manipulated to help Argentina lift the trophy.
Although these claims were never substantiated, they quickly became a recurring subject of internet memes, media coverage and heated discourse.
One of the earliest examples appeared on December 19th, 2022, just a day after the final game, when TikTok user messi2pechohielo2 shared an image macro joking that Infantino was thanking referee Szymon Marciniak for helping Argentina win the World Cup.
Similar memes continued appearing throughout 2023 and 2024 as YouTube videos discussing the conspiracy theories gained traction online.
How Are The 'Messi And Infantino' Memes Used, And Why Are They Back Again?
The Lionel Messi and Gianni Infantino memes typically portray the two as inseparable friends or romantic partners, exaggerating the conspiracy theory that FIFA is secretly helping Lionel Messi succeed.
Many versions use AI-generated videos, image edits or parody images to depict the pair in intentionally over-the-top situations.
For instance, TikToker kjufer shared one such example in April 2023 depicting Argentine FIFA referee Facundo Tello, Messi and Infantino with the caption, "Find a better trio."
The meme pairing experienced a major resurgence leading into and during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
In December 2025, creators began posting AI-generated videos imagining affectionate interactions between Messi and Infantino, helping establish the visual style that would define the current trend.
The memes accelerated throughout the tournament whenever controversial officiating decisions involving Argentina sparked heated debates and reactions on social media.
Following comments from Infantino about "suffering" during Argentina's knockout-stage match against Cape Verde, users flooded social media with new edits portraying him as Messi's biggest supporter.
On July 4th, 2026, following the match, the Instagram account blancos.pulse shared another meme depicting Messi and Infantino embracing on the poster for the movie Titanic, which has since been widely reposted online.
The trend reached another peak after Argentina's controversial round-of-16 victory over Egypt, when a disputed VAR decision reignited accusations of favoritism and rigging.
In response, social media was filled with AI videos and images, memes and more jokes depicting Messi and Infantino as an inseparable duo, cementing the format as one of the defining football memes of the 2026 World Cup.
What Are Some Examples Of 'Messi And Infantino' Memes?
For the full history of the Lionel Messi and Gianni Infantino memes, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
Read the original article on Know Your Meme.
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