“Daddy Is Sad”: How a Fake Gianni Infantino Meme Went Viral After Messi’s Missed Penalty

Lionel Messi made unwanted football history during Argentina's chaotic 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Egypt in Atlanta, but the internet's attention quickly shifted to a completely different spectacle in the stands—or so it seemed.

As the tense knockout match unfolded, a video clip allegedly showing FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacting in despair to a missed Lionel Messi penalty began spreading like wildfire across social media. The footage instantly transformed into a massive viral meme, with fans flooding timelines with jokes like "Daddy is sad" and teasing that FIFA would "restart the World Cup" if the defending champions were knocked out early.

Fact Check: Infantino Wasn't Even There

Despite how perfectly timed the clip appeared to be, the viral sensation was completely fabricated. Gianni Infantino was not actually present at the Atlanta Stadium for the Argentina vs. Egypt match.

The viral video was simply another product of internet meme culture, where creators skillfully stitched entirely unrelated historical footage of the FIFA President onto the live broadcast events of the 2026 tournament to manufacture a hilarious, false connection.

The meme gained extra traction due to separate, real-world comments from Infantino, who openly admitted he "suffered" while watching Argentina's incredibly close matches. However, he heavily clarified that his personal emotions have zero impact on his neutrality and that he remains entirely impartial as the head of football's global governing body.

Messi Overcomes History-Making Drama

The viral hoax completely overshadowed a staggering, record-breaking moment on the pitch. When Messi stepped up to the penalty spot in the 20th minute with Argentina trailing 1-0, his powerful strike was spectacularly saved by Egypt's goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir.

With that save, Lionel Messi became the first player in the entire history of the FIFA World Cup to miss two penalties in a single tournament edition, having previously missed a spot-kick against Austria during the group stage.

Fortunately for La Albiceleste, the legendary captain managed to redeem himself later in the match. Messi scored an equalizer in the 82nd minute before Enzo Fernández sealed a dramatic 3-2 comeback in stoppage time, punching Argentina's ticket to the quarter-finals and putting the viral conspiracies to rest—at least until the next match.

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Over to You!

Did you fall for the viral Infantino reaction video when it popped up on your feed? Do you think Argentina can go all the way to retain their trophy despite their shaky defensive moments against Egypt? Drop your predictions in the comments section below!