The chant comes from Saudi Arabia's stunning 2-1 victory over Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a result that ended Argentina's long unbeaten run. During the upset, Saudi supporters in the stadium began taunting Lionel Messi, asking where the Argentine captain was while their team held on for the win. Clips of the crowd cheering and chanting spread quickly across football social media, turning the moment into a reusable meme for any match where a famous player fails to deliver. It remains popular because the upset still feels almost unbelievable.
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A Saudi fan chants 'Where is Messi?' after Saudi Arabia's shock 2022 World Cup win over Argentina, a taunt reused when a star player disappears in a big game.
The clip captures a Saudi Arabia supporter repeatedly shouting 'Where is Messi?' in a loud, gleeful, chanting voice, as if scanning the pitch for a player who should be dominating the game. The delivery is playful rather than angry, rising in excitement with each repetition and carrying the energy of a stadium crowd celebrating an unlikely result. It lands as a perfect piece of football banter, turning a superstar's quiet game into the joke itself. Listeners instantly recognise the teasing tone, whether they follow the tournament or just enjoy watching a favourite get humbled by an underdog.
