The world’s eyes will be on Lionel Messi on Wednesday night, as Argentina face England in the World Cup semi-final. The diminutive superstar has gained a massive following across the planet, not least in Israel, thanks to his numerous business and security connections with the Apartheid State.
From being the face of an Israeli A.I. company led and run by Israeli spies, entrusting his private security to a team of Israel secret agents, MintPress explores the reasons why Benjamin Netanyahu considers him to be his favorite football player.
Palling Up With Ex-Israeli Spooks
As one of the most celebrated footballers globally, Lionel Messi is understandably cautious about his public image. The Argentine star carefully selects his associations and maintains lucrative long-term contracts with major international brands like Adidas, Pepsi, and Mastercard.
Therefore, many were taken aback when in 2020 he announced a collaboration with OrCam, a relatively small Israeli A.I. firm producing wearable vision devices similar to Google Glass. OrCam presents its technology as aiding visually impaired people to enhance their quality of life. Messi became the company’s global ambassador and public face.
More controversially, OrCam originates from the Israeli national security establishment, with numerous former agents from the Israeli military intelligence unit, Unit 8200, occupying key roles. Notably, Adi Levitski, a veteran Unit 8200 intelligence officer, was appointed director of operations at OrCam in 2024.
Several OrCam employees previously held command roles within this secretive intelligence agency, which has been accused of some of the worst atrocities following the October 7, 2023 conflict, as well as orchestrating significant international cyber espionage operations. For example, Mor Shamy served as head of Unit 8200’s intelligence analysis by 2015 and later worked as an algorithm developer at OrCam. He collaborated with Matan Albeck, a former head of Unit 8200’s data analysis division.
Despite recent downsizing, the company remains predominantly staffed by ex-spies, with personnel frequently moving between OrCam and Unit 8200. Individuals such as Eliya Segev and Eli Corn have transitioned from OrCam to Unit 8200, while Amitai Edrei has worked simultaneously for both organizations, highlighting their close interconnection.
For Messi, partnering with OrCam should have raised concerns, considering Unit 8200’s role as the architect of Israel’s sophisticated technological warfare in Gaza and beyond. Its operatives are responsible for some of the globe’s most invasive spyware developments.
Using extensive digital surveillance on Palestinians, the agency compiled large-scale A.I.-driven kill lists and carried out tens of thousands of drone strikes, profoundly contributing to Gaza’s devastation.
Unit 8200 also engineered intrusive spyware like Pegasus, deployed to surveil tens of thousands of foreign dignitaries, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders worldwide. The Israeli government sold Pegasus technology to authoritarian regimes, enabling repression. One infamous case involved Saudi Arabia spying on Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi before his brutal murder in the Turkish embassy.
Given all this, it is highly questionable that Messi would willingly represent such a firm.
Messi’s Israeli Handlers
Throughout his career, Messi has visited Israel multiple times. In 2013, he and F.C. Barcelona toured Israel and Palestine on a so-called “Peace Tour.” During this journey, he met with Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, greeted Israeli Defense Forces soldiers, wore a yarmulke, and prayed at the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site.
Even after departing, Messi’s ties to Israel persist. His personal security is managed by a team of former Israeli operatives who oversee his movements, particularly abroad. Prioritizing his safety, he once missed his sister-in-law’s wedding in Argentina due to security risks.
These same Israeli agents were responsible for security at his 2017 wedding, according to ESPN, though the report did not specify whether they belonged to Mossad, Shin Bet, or elite commando units.
While Messi tends to avoid political topics, he has remained silent on Israel/Palestine matters since the October 7, 2023 events, despite numerous (false) claims to the contrary.
Netanyahu was evidently impressed by Messi when they met in 2013. In a recent interview, the Israeli leader stated his support for Argentina in the World Cup: “He’s 39 years old now,” he remarked; “They are fortunate to have such an experienced player who knows how to score.”
In Israel, public opinion also favors Argentina. A recent poll showed 38% of Israeli citizens backing Argentina in the tournament, far surpassing Brazil, the runner-up. Yoav Berkowitz, head of sports at Israeli public broadcaster Kan, credited this largely to Messi’s influence.
Zionist Brothers
Other voices, including Netanyahu, cite Argentinian President Javier Milei as a key supporter. Since his 2023 election, Milei has made backing Israel a core part of his agenda. On the international stage, Israel has few allies remaining, but Milei’s Argentina stands out as a particularly vocal advocate. In May 2024, Argentina opposed a widely supported United Nations resolution to grant Palestine full membership. Four months later, it again voted against a resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories.
Milei’s administration has labeled Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Quds Forces as terrorist organizations and endorsed the US/Israel military actions against Iran, with Milei declaring it “the right thing to do.” Argentina also announced plans to relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, effectively legitimizing the contested occupation. However, this move was suspended after Israel’s Navitas oil company began drilling near the Falklands/Malvinas, a territory controlled by the UK but claimed by Argentina.
On a personal level, Milei has distanced himself from Argentina’s predominant Catholic faith and appears to be embracing Judaism, describing himself earlier this year as “the most Zionist president in the world.”
Netanyahu praised Milei, saying, “Milei is a great friend of Israel. He’s a superstar, he really is. He’s done amazing things with their economy by adopting the free market.”
How Israel Helped Argentina Massacre Its Jewish Population
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s global support has dwindled significantly, even in Western countries. A 2025 YouGov survey found that Italians with “very unfavorable” views of Israel (43%) outnumber those with “very favorable” opinions (2%) by over twentyfold. In Germany, the country with the strongest Israeli backing, only 21% had positive views of Israel (4% highly favorable), while 65% expressed opposition (32% strongly unfavorable).
Contrary to popular belief, the October 7 event was not the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Rather, Argentina’s fascist military dictatorship during the 1970s and 1980s relentlessly targeted Jewish communities, murdering or forcibly disappearing thousands.
Inspired by Nazi ideology, the regime equated Judaism with socialism and systematically eliminated political dissidents, even transforming football stadiums into death camps. Many regime officials were descendants of German Nazis who fled to Argentina after World War II.
Israel actively assisted the dictatorship by supplying advanced military equipment and increasing military aid even as attacks on Argentine Jews escalated.
A Love Hate Relationship
While Israel backs Argentina, this favor is not equally returned, despite Milei’s efforts. A recent Pew poll revealed that most Argentinians view Israel negatively, with 34% rating it very unfavorably—seven times the 5% with very favorable opinions.
In this regard, Argentinians follow in the footsteps of another football legend: Diego Maradona. Widely hailed as the greatest player of all time, Maradona called himself “the number one fan of the Palestinian people” and said, “in my heart, I am Palestinian.”
Maradona openly criticized the policies of the United States and Israel and aligned with revolutionary causes worldwide. By contrast, Messi has generally avoided politics. Still, as outlined here, his actions—embracing Netanyahu, touring Jerusalem, becoming the face of an Israeli tech firm staffed by former intelligence agents, and employing Israeli operatives as personal protectors—raise questions about his claimed neutrality.
Argentina faces England today for a spot in the World Cup Final. While the outcome is uncertain, there is no doubt that Israel and Netanyahu will be rooting for Argentina—and Lionel Messi.
Original article: www.mintpressnews.com
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