Argentina saved their first match point by beating Mexico by two goals to nil in a match marked by tension and more typical of the South American qualifiers than of a World Cup group stage. Controversy has engulfed this match before and after the referee’s whistle, with clashes between fans and criticism on Twitter between legends of the sport.
The Mexican boxer, Saúl El Canelo Álvarez, and unified super-middleweight champion, filled in the characters on Twitter to reproach the seven-time Ballon d’Or, Leo Messi, for having “shot” an Aztec team shirt. “Did they see Messi cleaning the floor with our shirt and flag????” He wrote after a video of the Argentine locker room went viral after the game.
The controversy broke out in a few minutes and the boxer threw gasoline on the fire writing: “Let him ask God not to find it for me!!”. Shortly after and after criticism from the albiceleste fans, he clarified that his comments are not directed towards Argentina but towards the captain of the team, explaining that this gesture would not be relevant if it had been done by a fan.
Many of the Mexican fans are on the side of their star boxer, whom they consider a defender of their homeland, and share with him that it is disrespectful that the shirt is on the ground.
The messages and criticisms are a continuous succession and Álvarez has exploded against ESPN boxing analyst David Faitelson, with whom he has already had more than one argument publicly.
The journalist reproached him for attacking Messi and urged him to focus on a rematch against Dimitry Bivol, who put the second defeat in the Mexican’s locker. To which “El Canelo” did not remain silent and replied: “You always defend everyone except people from Mexico.”
The retired former Barça player, Kun Aguero, has come out in defense of Leo Messi and has normalized what happened in the video, saying that this happens in every game and in all teams.
The controversy has erupted over a detail, possibly recurring inside the changing rooms, but which has added salt to Mexico’s wound after the defeat against Argentina that makes it very difficult for them to continue in the World Cup. Next Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. the last day of group C will be played, which will pit Argentina against Poland and Saudi Arabia against Mexico, the last with a single point.
