After defeating England, two Argentine stars had to hire private security for their homes.

British media revealed that Lisandro Martinez and Alexis Mac Allister were compelled to employ private security guards for their residences right after Argentina beat England in the World Cup 2026 semifinal. The decision came due to fears of overzealous responses from fans in the UK.

As reported by The Sun, Lisandro Martinez and Alexis Mac Allister had to bring in private security teams to protect their homes in England following Argentina's semifinal win over England at the 2026 World Cup. This step was taken out of concern for potential aggressive reactions from English supporters.

Private security companies were hired to patrol around the homes of Martinez and Mac Allister in northwest England for two consecutive days after the semifinal. Although no acts of vandalism were recorded, the enhanced protection highlighted fears of extreme reactions following England's defeat. Notably, sources confirmed that Manchester United was not involved in arranging security for Martinez's residence.

Tensions escalated further when, during the post-match celebrations, Martinez appeared holding a banner that read "The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina". Alexis Mac Allister stood nearby as the banner was raised, while Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso also held the same banner. This is a highly sensitive issue between England and Argentina, causing the image to quickly spark controversy.

Nevertheless, according to sources in England, the homes of Martinez and Mac Allister were not attacked or vandalized. The security arrangements were seen as a precautionary measure amid still-heated emotions among fans after England's semifinal exit. Media also recalled the incident where a mural of Marcus Rashford in Withington was vandalized after he missed a penalty in the EURO 2020 final, citing it as a notable precedent.

Martinez has enjoyed great affection from Manchester United fans since joining the club in July 2022. Over the past 25 years, supporters at Old Trafford have frequently chanted "Argentina" to cheer on Argentine players wearing the club's shirt. After the 2022 World Cup victory, Martinez was welcomed back with an Argentine flag flying in the Stretford End stand.

Alexis Mac Allister also received special recognition from Brighton fans after his World Cup 2022 success, with many homemade banners brought to the stadium to honor him. Meanwhile, fans of Manchester United and Liverpool have long been known for not being particularly attached to the England national team. MU supporters have also chanted "Argentina" to support David Beckham after his red card against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.