Football superstar Lionel Messi actually caused a storm in the away team's dressing room, this time not a wonderful performance on the green field, but a farce off the field. On April 4, Inter Miami lost to Monterrey on their own turf, and Messi made headlines despite his absence. What kind of play is this, and how did Messi become the main character?
For Miami International, it was an opportunity to challenge oneself and write a brilliant one. In the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals, they face Mexico's heavyweight Monterrey. Fans were expecting a miracle at home, but the result was a 2-1 defeat. Especially the last-minute stunner made Miami International's fans feel like knives. For the team, it's not just about losing a game, it's like losing a stage to show yourself.
Behind this, the most concerned is not the game itself, but the scene that happened after the game. Lionel Messi, the football superstar, missed the game due to injury and missed Argentina's friendly match, but his presence has never waned. At the moment when the team needed to calm down the most, Messi lost control of his emotions for a while and made a big fuss in the away team's locker room.
In fact, Messi's mood is understandable. Anyone who sees their beloved team being beaten by their opponents at the last minute will not be in a good mood. What's more, as the leader of the team, he was unable to win on the field due to injury, and this sense of powerlessness and frustration can only find catharsis in the emotional outburst after the game.
Monterrey coach Ortiz's remarks before the game also seemed to have laid the groundwork for Messi's outburst. Ortiz mentioned that "sporty or non-sporting decisions" could happen around Messi. Hearing these words in Messi's ears, I don't know if it touched his sensitive nerves. On the pitch, every referee's whistle can change the course of the game.
When the whistle blew at the end of the game, the losing Inter Miami players and coaching staff complained about the referee's decision. Messi, coach Martino, Alba, and Suarez expressed their dissatisfaction to the referee emotionally, and then went straight to the locker room to find Ortiz's "theory". There was a fierce war of words between Messi and Monterrey's assistant coach Nico Sanchez. The scene was very hot at one point, as if another match-out showdown was staged.
For Mexican fans, it seemed to be a strange victory. On the Internet, many people began to ridicule Messi and Miami International, and some even sarcastically said: "When the referee doesn't help you, you go to trouble, and that World Cup is not yours." This is clearly an allusion to Messi's previous controversy on the international stage, although his individual ability and influence are unquestionable.
Some netizens sarcastically predicted, "Monterrey will be awarded 5 penalties and 2 red cards in the second leg". This is both a satirical prediction of the upcoming second leg and a question of the referee's standard and fairness.
There are also Mexican fans who describe Messi as a "crybaby", saying that he is "used to being helped, a pathetic and decadent loser." The comments were sharp and sarcastic, clearly unhappy with Messi's post-match behavior.
Now, we are waiting for the second leg to see if Inter Miami can make a comeback on Mexican soil, and we are looking forward to seeing if Messi can recover and return to the field to contribute to the team.
The battle on the pitch is over, but the discussion among the fans has only just begun. What do you think about this?