Cristiano Ronaldo has appeared to endorse claims that FIFA is corrupt after "liking" a journalist's social media post describing the organisation as "one of the most corrupt institutions on the planet". The gesture comes in the wake of Lionel Messi's Argentina reaching the World Cup final, a run some critics have characterised as fortuitous, reigniting the long-running rivalry between football's two most decorated modern stars.

The report sits amid a wider backlash against Argentina following ugly scenes at the World Cup final, including reports of Spain players being attacked and FIFA reportedly considering bans for Argentine players involved in violent conduct. Ronaldo's endorsement of the corruption claim has not been accompanied by any public statement of his own, with the story built around the significance of his social media interaction rather than direct comment.