A Messi fan, Borrachinha reveals his sadness over Argentina's defeat to Spain in the World Cup final and takes a dig at Brazilian players.

Borrachinha promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC

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The ever-controversial Paulo Borrachinha doesn't want to know about the Brazil vs Argentina rivalry in football. While for many Brazilians Spain's 1-0 victory in the 2026 World Cup final, held last Sunday (19), in New Jersey (USA), meant relief, the athlete, on the other hand, did not like the result decided in extra time.

In a serious tone, Borrachinha revealed that he was rooting for the Argentinians, who were seeking their fourth World Cup title. It's worth remembering that to reach the final, Argentina went through a tough knockout stage and 'sweated blood' to beat Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, and England. Precisely because of the players' frequent display of fighting spirit on the field and because he is a fan of Lionel Messi, who was probably playing in his last World Cup, the Brazilian ignored the historic rivalry between the two countries.

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And, seeing the Argentinian players giving their all, Borrachinha, as could be expected, didn't spare the Brazilian athletes, who passively lost to Norway in the round of 16. So much so that the bad boy signaled that Brazil is no longer the country of football but of fighting, largely due to the success of its representatives in the UFC.

"It wasn't Argentina's day. I was sad because I was rooting for Argentina. Most Brazilians don't root for Argentina, but I was. Maybe not at the beginning, but after the halfway point, from the moment a player was sent off, I started rooting for Argentina. And besides, there's Messi too," the fighter said on his official 'X' account.

“I like Argentina’s style of play because they play with passion and determination. So, I was rooting for them to be champions, but unfortunately, it is what it is. We won’t see Messi play anymore, which is a shame. Brazil didn’t do well, they were knocked out early, but at least in combat sports we do well. That’s what matters,” he concluded.

Rubber Band Fighters in MMA

Paulo Borrachinha , 35, is one of the most popular Brazilian fighters in the UFC. He began his MMA career in 2012, debuted for the organization in 2017, and fought for the middleweight title (up to 83,9 kg) in 2020. Currently, the Minas Gerais native is ranked fourth in the light heavyweight division.

In sports, the bad boy built a record of 16 wins and four losses. His main victories were over Azamat Murzakanov , Johny Hendricks , Luke Rockhold , and Yoel Romero.

I'm crying for you Argentina 🥲 pic.twitter.com/X4UccywgVI

— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 20, 2026

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