By Eric Blum For Dailymail.Com and Luke Power For Mailonline and Dan Cancian For Mailonline
04:28 22 Nov 2023, updated 09:21 22 Nov 2023
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Lionel Messi exchanged savage words with Rodrygo after the Brazil star accused Argentina’s players of cowardice for retreating down the tunnel following the clash between fans and police at the Maracana Stadium.
Rodrygo told Messi and Rodrigo De Paul they were ‘cowards’ for going to the dressing room before Argentina’s 1-0 World Cup qualifier win.
Messi had led his team-mates into the changing room after supporters clashed and police wielded batons towards Argentina fans, forcing kick-off to be delayed by 30 minutes.
Several fans were seen ripping the seats off stadium chairs and using them as weapons.
Emiliano Martinez also leapt up towards the stands to slap a baton out of an officer’s hands before being restrained by his teammates.
When squaring up to Rodrygo, Messi said: ‘We are the world champions, why are we cowards? Look at your mouth’ – as per TyC Sports.
Both the Ballon d’Or winner and teammate De Paul were seen furiously getting into Rodrygo’s face.
After the original trio came together, several other players from both teams joined in to make sure the conversation didn’t escalate further with Messi seen wrapping a hand around the back his opponent’s neck before he moved away.
Rodrygo and Rodrigo De Paul both play for Spanish clubs in the same city, at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid respectively.
Nicolas Otamendi’s second-half goal handed Brazil their first-ever home defeat in World Cup qualification on a night when substitute Joelinton was sent off less than ten minutes after coming into the fray.
Following the game, Lionel Messi launched a scathing attack on the Brazilian police, saying: ‘We saw how [police] were hitting the people, it already happened in the Libertadores final.
‘They were more focused on that than on the game.’
The Ballon d’Or winner was referring to the scenes at the Maracana before Fluminense’s win over Boca Juniors earlier this month.
Argentina initially appeared to be refusing to return to the field for kick-off before CONMEBOL gave them 15 minutes to take the field.
The reigning world champions insisted they would only return to the pitch once order had been restored and did so after spending over 20 minutes in the dressing room.
‘We went to the locker room because it was the best way to calm everything down, a tragedy could have happened,’ Messi explained.
‘We are a family. We decided to play to make situation more calm.’
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
