Cristiano Ronaldo’s former close teammate – Patrice Evra, has criticized Lionel Messi’s 2022 World Cup victory with Argentina.

Former France defender Patrice Evra has expressed his frustration with the constant talk surrounding the 2022 World Cup, especially the focus on Lionel Messi and Argentina’s victory. Evra believes the tournament seems scripted and that Messi’s victory is inevitable.

“Everything was written,” Evra said, implying that Argentina were favored to win the title. The former Manchester United man also suggested that even the French wanted Messi to win: “Even the French wanted Messi to win,” he said, expressing frustration at how the tournament’s narrative had been set.

Evra particularly highlighted the penalty in the final between Argentina and France, when the referee awarded the South American side a controversial situation in the first half: “The initial penalty… Personally, I wish good luck to Deschamps’ successor,” Evra shared.

He considered this a pivotal moment, adding to the sense that the outcome was pre-determined.

Evra also expressed his displeasure at the criticism of France for failing to defend their World Cup title. He felt that it was unfair to discuss too much about France’s failure in Qatar: “Okay, we haven’t won since 2018, but we all know they deliberately gave the World Cup to Messi in 2022,” Evra frankly expressed his opinion.

The former defender also defended coach Didier Deschamps against criticism and rumours of replacing him before the 2026 World Cup: “I think it’s a huge disrespect to Didier Deschamps,” Evra stressed, adding that the tactician deserves more respect for what he has done with the French team.

Evra’s statements have sparked much controversy in the football world, especially regarding the fairness of the 2022 World Cup. Despite many conflicting opinions, it is clear that the former player still holds the view that Argentina and Messi have received special favor in their journey to the top of the world.