Islam Makhachev’s World Cup moment with Argentina fan goes viral

Islam Makhachev attended the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina alongside his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, manager Ali Abdelaziz, and other members of his team. Already in the United States with his maiden welterweight title defense against Ian Garry scheduled for August 15 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Makhachev found himself seated next to an enthusiastic Argentina supporter despite Spain's 1-0 victory.

The exchange between the UFC welterweight champion and the fan went viral on social media. Makhachev playfully questioned the fan's happiness following Argentina's loss, saying "It was a very bad game, very boring, but it's OK. Hey, second place. You happy?" The fan, continuing to clap despite his team's defeat, responded that he remained satisfied simply because soccer legend Lionel Messi had made the final while Cristiano Ronaldo did not.

"Yes, I'm happy. Because Ronaldo is not here. Messi is here," the fan replied. The lighthearted moment captured Makhachev in a rare candid setting away from the Octagon, showcasing his personality as he prepares for his first title defense at welterweight following his dominant victory over Jack Della Maddalena.