Qué Mira, Bobo? — Messi during post-match interview with merchandise insets showing 'Que miras bobo' slogan

Qué Mira, Bobo?

2022catchphraseclassic

Published November 4, 2026

Qué Mira, Bobo?, also known as Anda Palla Bobo, is a catchphrase Lionel Messi fired at Dutch player Wout Weghorst during a post-match interview at the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal on December 10, 2022. Within three days, Argentine fans had tattooed the line on their bodies, spray-painted it on walls in La Plata, and dubbed softened versions of it on TikTok.

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Overview

Translated as 'What are you looking at, fool? Get out of here,' the line works as a dismissive taunt tied to Messi's glare at Weghorst during the televised interview. Argentine fans turned it into a World Cup victory slogan, with the line showing up on tattoos and graffiti within three days3. Merchandise bearing the phrase also hit Mercado Libre's Argentine marketplace that same week5.

Posts typically pair audio or a still image from the post-match interview with jokes aimed at rivals or critics. The 'Anda palla bobo' half often appears beside Messi's silhouette on shirts and body art3. A dubbed-reenactment subgenre emerged on TikTok, where creators softened Messi's exchange for comedic effect6.

Origin & Background

Platform
Live television / Twitter (viral spread)
Creator
Lionel Messi; meme format originated with Argentine fans on Twitter
Date
2022

Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal in Qatar on December 10, 2022, after a match FIFA later charged both squads over for disorderly conduct1. During a televised post-match interview, Messi walked off, then turned back toward Weghorst and said 'Qué mirás, bobo? Andá para allá, bobo,' Spanish for 'What are you looking at, fool? Get out of there'2. A tweet from @SoyElCachi uploaded that night reached 415,000 views and 28,700 likes in two days7.

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How It Spread

Argentine tattoo artist Nico Melana inked Messi's silhouette with the text 'Anda, palla bobo' on a client, and the result went viral after Instagram user boris.gibaut reposted it on December 10, 2022, picking up 87,000 likes and 573 comments in three days3. A day later, a wall in La Plata appeared painted with Messi's quote, documented in a tweet from @estebanweb on December 11 that reached 561 likes and 94 retweets4.

On TikTok, @pelao.khe posted a dubbed reenactment on December 12 that softened Messi's insult into a more cordial exchange. The video hit one million views and 177,000 likes within a day6. Merchandise listings for shirts and prints bearing the phrase appeared on Mercado Libre's Argentine marketplace that same week5.

Timeline

2022-12-09

Argentina beat the Netherlands on penalties in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal in Qatar, with tempers running high at full-time.

2022-12-10

Messi said 'Qué mirás, bobo? Andá para allá, bobo' to Wout Weghorst during a post-match television interview; clips hit Twitter within hours.

2022-12-10

Instagram user boris.gibaut shared a photo of Nico Melana's Messi-silhouette tattoo reading 'Anda, palla bobo,' which pulled 87,000 likes in three days.

2022-12-11

A wall in La Plata appeared painted with the phrase; a tweet from @estebanweb documented it and reached 561 likes.

2022-12-12

TikToker @pelao.khe posted a polite-reenactment version of the exchange; it hit one million views and 177,000 likes within a day.

How to Use This Meme

To use the catchphrase, pair Messi's post-match clip or still image with a caption aimed at a rival, a critic, or anything you want to dismiss. Spanish-speaking fans often write 'Qué mirás, bobo?' alongside a photo of an opponent. The 'Anda palla bobo' half typically shows up on merchandise and tattoos, not conversational posts3.

Frequently Asked Questions