Argentina’s 1-0 victory at the Maracanã left several titles up in the air, including ending Brazil’s historic unbeaten run at home in the qualifiers, whether Lionel Scaloni will decide to continue as coach, posed during the press conference after the match, and the acts of violence that occurred in the stands even before the referee whistled for kick-off.
This last incident also caused a clash between two of the figures of the two squads: Lionel Messi and Rodrygo.
The police repressed down on the Argentine fans as the anthems were played, the Albiceleste players intervened to try to calm the situation, but seeing that this did not happen, they retreated to the locker room. “We don’t play like that,” said Messi, who as captain led the decision.
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The team returned to the field after receiving guarantees and that’s when the collision took place. Television footage captured Rodrygo chatting with De Paul and that’s when Messi, visibly angry, approached him, squeezed the back of his neck and patted him before continuing the exchange of words.
Messi’s response to Rodrygo
Although the Inter Miami striker covered his mouth so as not to hear what he was saying, the Argentine channel TyC reproduced the dialogue. Rodrygo called Messi a “coward” for threatening not to play the match and the eight-time Ballon d’Or’s response was: “If we are world champions, why would we be cowards?”
Messi no longer spoke about this clash after the victory, but he did mention the previous incidents. “This team continues to write history… Great victory at the Maracanã even if it will remain marked by the repression of the Argentines once again in Brazil. This cannot be tolerated, it’s crazy and it must stop now,” he wrote on his social networks.
