Does a viral image prove that Argentina-England referee Ismail Elfath "asked for a photo" with Argentina's captain Lionel Messi? No, that's not true: The photo was cropped to remove the captain of the opposing team, who was posing with Messi and the referees for a standard pre-match shot. The image was produced in 2022, before a different match played by Argentina and France.

The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on X where it was published by @TheFootyFeed on July 14, 2026. It opened:

So only one referee at this World Cup has asked for a photo with Lionel Messi at the end of a game, And that referee is the one that the FIFA chose to appoint for a World Cup semifinal... You could not make this shit up 🤦‍♂️

This is what the image attached to the post looked like on X at the time of writing:

Paired with the caption, the image could be misread as evidence that Argentina-England referee Ismail Elfath -- standing to Messi's left -- was actually "asking for a photo" with him during a Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup game.

In 2026, when the post reviewed in this fact check was published, Elfath was selected to officiate (archived here) the FIFA World Cup Argentina-England match (archived here) on July 15, 2026. However, the image did not show what the viral post claimed it did. The photo predated the game by roughly four years and was digitally cropped to remove additional context.

The full-size photo (archived here) could be found on Getty Images where it was published under the title:

Argentina v France: Final - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The description of the image continued:

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: referees and team captains from L-R: Tomasz Listkiewicz, Lionel Messi, Ismail Elfath, Szymon Marciniak, Hugo Lloris, Pawe Sokolnicki [sic] before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

(Image source: Screenshot of Getty Images website.)

A search across the same stock image database for similar pictures featuring captains of two competing teams with soccer officials showed that such pre-game photos are a standard part of documenting matches, as seen, for example, here (archived here) and here (archived here).

David Beckham took England's loss to Argentina particularly hard as he watched the semifinal game from the stands in Atlanta, Georgia. The 51-year-old was consoled by his wife, Victoria Beckham, after the South American team secured their spot in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday night against Spain. 

Despite England taking the lead with Antony Gordon's goal in the 55th minute, Argentina quickly turned the game around and relentlessly attacked the Three Lions before putting the ball in the net in the 85th minute, and again just seven minutes later. 

After the final whistle blew, David and Victoria could be seen with their heads in their hands, dealing with the news that it wasn't coming home this time. The couple were joined at the game by three of their four children, Romeo, 23, Harper, 15, Cruz, 21, and his girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, and Cruz was seen hugging his father after the devastating loss.  

David then took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the major loss. "Heartbreak for us all but memories that inspire and last forever," he wrote in the caption. "Thank you to our team, our fans & our country for what you have given us in this World Cup @england." 

David has been following his national team on the World Cup circuit, with the 2026 competition marking 20 years since he last appeared on the world stage as captain. He shared his joy with fans on social media after England beat Norway 2-1 in the quarterfinals, posting a sweet family photo afterwards. 

"What a moment in Miami, I'm so proud of the team tonight reaching the semi-final of the World Cup and to celebrate with my family was so special...Thank you @england for giving our country these moments," he wrote. The soccer star and his fashion designer wife went viral at the same match after Victoria displayed a subdued reaction to Jude Bellingham's winning goal. 

Comedian Jenny Johnson caught David's attention with her social media post on the hilarious moment, writing: "There's nothing like cheering your heart out for England from home, then they cut to Victoria, and we see that classic Posh Spice smile! It's so infectious!"

Learn more about David and Victoria's children below...

"I used to think I got animated while watching sports, but Victoria blows my enthusiasm out of the water! Each time I see her I shout, 'SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!!!!' because her energy is electric!!!" Jenny quipped. David took to the comment section to defend his wife, explaining: "She was celebrating inside I promise her reactions were slightly slower than mine," alongside several laughing emojis. 

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The former Spice Girl told the Financial Times that, despite being married to the world's most famous soccer player, she had never particularly enjoyed the sport. 

"I never enjoyed watching football. I never felt necessarily wanted [at the matches]. I'm not saying this as in, poor me, but it was never the fun that it is now," she admitted. "Now, when we're in Miami, I feel wanted. I'm friends with the families of the players."

She also spoke on her famously straight face in her eponymous Netflix documentary in 2025, sharing why she never smiles in public. "I've looked miserable for all these years because when we stand on the red carpet, this guy has always gone on the left," she said, referring to David. 

"Now I didn't realize that when I smile, which I do, I smile from the left, 'cause if I smile from the right I look unwell. Consequently, I'm smiling on the inside, but no one ever sees it, so that's why I look so moody."