”I send Neville a big hug”: Romero fires back at England legend after semifinal victory

---

Cristian “Cuti” Romero has delivered a withering response to Gary Neville after the former England defender’s pre-match criticism of Argentina’s center-back pairing, following the Albiceleste’s dramatic 2-1 semifinal victory over the Three Lions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The clash in Atlanta was already a heavyweight World Cup semifinal, but Neville added significant fuel to the fire in the buildup. Speaking on The Overlap podcast, the former Manchester United captain launched a pointed critique of Romero and his defensive partner, Lisandro Martínez.

“You’ve got Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, who look like they’re going to gift a goal away every game between them,” Neville said. “Then you watch them scoring headers at the other end of the pitch. I call them the best-worst center-back partnership in the world because, at times, they are absolutely extraordinary, and then suddenly they go from the sublime to the ridiculous”. He further predicted that England would score at least twice, adding: “I don’t see how we won’t score at least two goals”.

Neville was not alone—Wayne Rooney, Joe Cole, and John Terry had also voiced doubts about Argentina’s chances—but it was the specific targeting of the defensive duo that struck a nerve.

When the final whistle blew after Argentina’s comeback, both Romero and Martínez were asked about Neville’s remarks. Martínez, the Manchester United defender, responded with measured calm: “We’re used to people always talking about us. It seems like they like doing it, and we respond on the pitch, that’s it, always with respect”.

Romero, however, was far more direct. Speaking to DSports, the Tottenham center-back admitted that Neville’s comments had served as extra motivation.

“Licha and I were fired up before the game [because of Gary Neville’s comments],” Romero said. “We played today with a bit more anger because of that”.

Then came the knockout blow. “The only thing I hope when I retire is that I don’t become that stupid,” Romero declared. “Everyone has their own way of thinking, but when I retire, I hope I don’t start criticizing or underestimating players, because at the end of the day, you go out there to give your best for your team or your country”. He added: “Hopefully I won’t criticise a player or anyone. Because at the end of the day, we are doing our best for our national team. Sometimes it goes right for us, sometimes badly”.

Despite the sharp words, Romero struck a surprisingly conciliatory note. “I send Neville a big hug,” he said.

For all the pre-match bravado, Neville’s prediction proved spectacularly wrong. Romero and Martínez delivered a defensive masterclass, frustrating England captain Harry Kane to the point where he did not register a single touch inside Argentina’s penalty area. Argentina conceded just once and roared back with two late goals to book their place in a second consecutive World Cup final.

“We are happy to be in a World Cup final again. I think we are making history, for us it is something really huge, and we feel the significance of this shirt like no one else,” Romero said.

For Neville, it was a reminder that what is said in the studio does not always survive contact with the pitch. For Romero and Martínez, it was simply another chapter in their growing legacy—and a chance to prove that the “best-worst” label is, in the end, just noise.

---