Cristian “Cuti” Romero and Lisandro Martínez have fiercely responded to criticism from the British media after Argentina secured their place in the 2026 World Cup final. Following their hard-fought 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta, the Córdoba-born defender did not hold back, directly addressing former England full-back Gary Neville, who had previously referred to Argentina’s central defensive partnership as the “best-worst pair of centre-backs in the world.”

The Argentine duo made it clear that they were determined to settle the score regarding the pre-match remarks. Lisandro Martínez, hailing from Entre Ríos, was the first to respond, offering a calm yet cutting reply to the former Manchester United player’s comments. “We’re used to it. They like to talk about us, but we prefer to respond on the pitch,” Martínez said with a hint of irony.

However, the most intense reaction came from Romero, who did not mince words when discussing Neville’s role as a football pundit. “I hope that when I retire, I’m not as foolish as Gary Neville. I’m not going to criticise players,” the Tottenham Hotspur defender stated bluntly. The World Cup-winning centre-back then concluded with a reflection on mutual respect within the profession, emphasising the importance of dignity among players.