England midfielder Jude Bellingham has moved to clarify his on-field exchange with Argentina captain Lionel Messi following their World Cup semi-final in Atlanta.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Argentina's 2-1 victory over England. Television images showed Bellingham, wearing England's No. 10 shirt, in an animated discussion with Messi after a foul in the second half.
The clip went viral and prompted speculation of a rift between the two players. Argentina advanced to the final with the win, while England exited the tournament at the semi-final stage of the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking after the match, Bellingham said there were no issues between them. He explained the conversation was about a foul, describing it as a frictional moment with nothing bad behind it. He said there were zero problems and no bad feelings.
Bellingham added that it was a privilege to share the pitch with Messi, calling him one of the best players and describing Messi's tournament as amazing. He also wished the Argentina captain good luck for the final against Spain on Sunday.