I’ve seen so many silly opinions regarding this and it’s funny how logic seems to disappear whenever Messi is involved.
First, The rules clearly say that covering your mouth while talking to an opponent is a red card offense. Everyone is aware of this rule (which was introduced after Prestianni’s incident with Vini) but since it’s Messi, let’s all suddenly forget it exists.
Second, a player on his team had just been sent off which makes the game uneven. As a captain it’s expected that he’d try to even things at any chance. Cucurella covering his mouth while talking to him presented that chance and he tried to take it but fortunately for one or unfortunately for the other, it’s one of those times where the rules lack consistency.
The amount of narratives I’ve seen about this moment in the game is beyond disgusting. Even casuals who know nothing are having opinions. He’s been called names just for doing the right thing any captain would do for his team
Always grateful he won the World Cup in 2022 because the things that would have been said about him would’ve been way more pathetic than the ones currently being said.
Portugal vs Ghana, 2022 World Cup.
Ronaldo actually got a penalty for this.
Now imagine the exact same decision was given to Messi and Argentina. We'd still be hearing "FIFA rigged the World Cup" every single day.
This whole thing is especially hilarious to me because if the roles were reversed and Cucurella asked the ref to give a red card to Messi after covering his mouth, people would talk about Messi getting away with it and the rules not applying to him.
@76_fatso Messi has won more club trophies, individual trophies & played in an era of actual professional footballers compared to Pele's time. Without reducing Pele's WC success, his 1st WC was a top 16 back then & in his 2nd WC he played only 2 games the 3rd one It was the one
i cannot take 16years old whosd first interaction with football was writing a fanfics about haaland and bellingham calling messi "fraud" or "rigged"
this was messi for 20 years in a row
All the Spanish players posted their pics with Messi but Merino realized he didn't have a single one so he posted that clip of Messi shooting the ball right into his face. LMAO this is the funniest shit ever
There is no GOAT in any sport without the biggest prize of that particular sport. In Football its Uefa Champions League and FIFA World Cup. If there's an Olympic Gold Medal then no one even dares