Brazilian channel SporTV mocked Cabo Verde with meme, sparking backlash

Brazilian television channel SporTV has drawn criticism for its social media posts related to the 2026 World Cup, particularly a meme that mocked Cabo Verde following their narrow defeat to Argentina.

After Argentina's hard-fought 3-2 victory over Cabo Verde in the round of 16, SporTV published a meme on social media. The image featured Lionel Messi confronting Cabo Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha, with the caption, "Did you forget I am Messi? Hahaha." The channel later removed the post due to negative reactions, but not before it was saved and shared by other users.

In a seemingly contradictory move, SporTV later posted a different message showing support for the Cabo Verdean goalkeeper. They dressed Vozinha in a Brazil jersey, accompanying the image with a caption indicating their support, which garnered applause from fans. The channel also engaged with another popular meme trend that portrays French star Kylian Mbappé as a "dictator," referencing alleged attitudes within the Real Madrid team.

The "Mbappé dictator" meme has circulated online, stemming from discussions about his behavior within the Real Madrid club. SporTV's participation in this trend, alongside their controversial meme about Cabo Verde, has sparked debate among football fans regarding the channel's social media conduct.