Sergio Aguero slams Argentina vs Netherlands referee – and Twitter agrees

Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz gestures during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Netherlands and Argentina at Lusail Stadium on December 9, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.
(Image credit: Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Former Argentina striker Sergio Aguero is not a happy bunny with referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.

The Spanish official for the Albaceleste's quarter-final clash against the Netherlands has a reputation for enjoying the spotlight. It seems like King Kun agrees, with the referee dishing out cards not just to those on the field… but on the pitch, too. 

"How this referee likes to attract attention, my God," Aguero posted on Twitter.

And it seem as if the whole of social media is in agreement with the ex-Manchester City forward.

Rather than the game exploding into life, both the Netherlands and Argentina played cautiously in the opening stages of the match to feel each other out. We had a feeling it would, too –  BBC pundit Pablo Zabaleta declared the 2014 semi-final between this pair as “boring” and a game he could barely remember, it seemed as though history could well repeat itself with without a single shot on target in the opening 20 minutes.

The first effort of either side was a wild shot from distance from Lionel Messi whacked wildly high and wide, with Steven Bergwijn hitting one wide a couple of minutes later. The quality stepped up nicely, though – and naturally, it was the Argentina captain who supplied the magic. 

Messi managed to jink away from oncoming Dutch defenders with effortless ease before sliding a gorgeous pass through the lines and onto wing-back Nahuel Molina of Atletico Madrid for one of the most memorable assists of the World Cup so far

The winner of the Netherlands and Argentina faces Croatia in the semi-final next week.

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.