Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Argentine President Javier Milei as Argentina's "real superstar," praising him for his unwavering support for Israel rather than celebrating football legend Lionel Messi.
Speaking during a recent podcast interview, Netanyahu said Milei had become a symbol of Argentina's strong backing for Israel, calling him "Israel's greatest friend."
The Israeli premier's remarks come as relations between Israel and Argentina continue to deepen under Milei's presidency. The two countries recently announced the Isaac Accords, an initiative aimed at expanding strategic, diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Netanyahu has repeatedly commended Milei for his pro-Israel stance, which has included stronger diplomatic engagement and closer bilateral coordination.
Football controversy adds context
Netanyahu's comments come just days after Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2026 Round-of-16 victory over Egypt triggered widespread controversy over refereeing decisions.
Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 to reach the quarter-finals, but the match was overshadowed by accusations that key decisions favoured the defending champions.
Fans, pundits and former players criticised what they described as inconsistent use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), pointing to Egypt having a goal disallowed after a VAR review while several incidents involving Argentina were not reviewed.
A number of social media users also questioned why an apparent foul on Egypt captain Mohamed Salah went unpunished, arguing that similar incidents involving Egyptian players resulted in bookings or VAR intervention.
French referee François Letexier faced intense criticism online, with some supporters accusing officials of showing preferential treatment towards Argentina.
One widely shared post claimed the match was "the most rigged" of the tournament, while another said the officiating had damaged confidence in the integrity of the World Cup.
The controversy also resonated among Pakistani football fans, many of whom expressed support for Egypt and alleged that major teams often receive favourable treatment in international tournaments.
FIFA had not issued a detailed statement on the officiating at the time, while Argentina progressed to the quarter-finals despite the ongoing debate surrounding the match.
Although Netanyahu's comments focused on Milei's political support for Israel, they have drawn additional attention at a time when Argentina remains in the global spotlight both for its diplomatic ties and its controversial World Cup campaign.
