Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates chanted a song containing an expletive in the mixed zone, in front of the media after beating France in the final 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.

"Support the national team, support them to the death because I love Argentina, because it’s an emotion I carry in my heart." the players sang.

"And I don’t care what those f*****g journalists say!"

High expectations in the media, often comparing Lionel Messi to Diego Maradona, have intensified a fraught relationship between Argentina’s national team and local press.

The team faced heavy criticism after losing their opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, before recovering to lift the trophy for the first time since 1986.

"The Argentina team in the mixed zone sang a song that was disrespectful to us," said Merlo in an end of year message.

"They insulted our profession.

"I know that they were full of joy, but even in the joy they have to be careful not to insult other people because we are there to work with them for a better sport in the future.

"And I hope that they will apologise for their position because I believe that champions and journalists must work together to defend the principles of sports, the freedom of sports, the freedom of discussion, the freedom of expression, because this is the real point."

AIPS, founded in 1924, represents sports journalists in more than 160 countries.

Merlo is just the latest to draw attention to Argentina’s celebrations, which many believe overstepped the mark, with French Football Federation President Noël Le Graët writing to the Argentine equivalent Claudio Tapia to complain.

Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez had mocked France’s star player Kylian Mbappé, who scored three goals in the match before converting his penalty in the shootout, in the dressing room by shouting, "A minute silence… for Mbappé who died!"

During the trophy parade in Buenos Aires, Martínez was then spotted holding a doll with Mbappé's face on it while a group of supporters set fire to cardboard decorated like a coffin with a photo of the Paris Saint-Germain player on.

Mbappé has claimed he is unconcerned about the insults which has led to reports that Unai Emery, Martínez’s club manager at English Premier League club Aston Villa may sell him because he is so unimpressed.

"The celebrations, they’re not my problem," said Mbappé after Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 win over Strasbourg last Wednesday (December 28) in his first match since the World Cup final.

"I don’t waste any energy on such futile things.

"What’s important for me is to give the best of myself for my club, and we’re looking forward for Leo [Messi] to return to continue scoring and winning matches."