Lionel Messi has stirred up emotions among Mexican soccer fans.
Inter Miami CF began their preseason tour on Saturday, facing off against Club América, the reigning Liga MX champions, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Messi found the back of the net in the 34th minute, equalizing the match for his team.
The game ended in a stalemate after regulation time, leading to a penalty shootout where Inter Miami emerged victorious. This impressive performance positions Miami as a strong contender for the upcoming MLS Cup. However, the match quickly became a topic of controversy.
Here’s a closer look at the tension between Messi and the supporters of the Mexican national team:
What happened?
Following his equalizer, Messi celebrated by gesturing a “3-0” sign towards a group of Club América fans.
Why are Mexico fans upset?
Even though the match was not against the Mexican national team, it was against one of their top clubs, leading many to interpret Messi’s celebration as a jab at El Tri.
Argentina has triumphed in the World Cup three times, while Mexico has yet to claim a title. Furthermore, Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Mexico in the 2007 Copa América still resonates with fans, as Messi, then just 20 years old, scored in that match.
The two teams have clashed on the World Cup stage four times, with their most recent encounter occurring during the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina won 2-0, with Messi netting the first goal.
What has been said?
Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami’s coach and a former teammate of Messi at FC Barcelona, played down the incident, stating that he understands the historical tension between Argentines and Mexicans, especially following the World Cup.
However, Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista, a former midfielder for the Mexican national team, expressed his discontent with Messi’s gesture, emphasizing that it reflects poorly on the Argentine star’s professionalism.
As of now, Messi has not publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his celebration.
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