Category: Lionel Messi – English

Saúl Canelo Álvarez acknowledged his mistake and offered apologies, and now it was Lionel Messi‘s turn to speak and he is clear: at no time did he disrespect Mexico with the controversy created by the comments of the Mexican boxer and assured that he does not have to apologize.

Lionel Messi’s first words

After Argentina’s victory over Poland to confirm itself as leader of Group C in the 2022 World Cup, Messi was questioned about what happened on Saturday in the Albiceleste’s dressing room, where he allegedly kicked a Mexico shirt that was on the floor, which upset Canelo, but the soccer player ended the controversy and assured that it was never a lack of respect.

“It was a misunderstanding. Those who know me know that I don’t disrespect anyone. These are things that happen in the locker room after the game. I don’t have to ask for forgiveness because I didn’t disrespect the people of Mexico or the jersey,” Messi said.

Canelo was so upset that he wrote on his social networks that he asked God not to meet the PSG player, and his comments generated the anger of several people, including Messi’s friends, teammates, compatriots and even Mexican players who agreed with the Argentina player.

Canelo repented and offered apologies

Canelo had to assume his mistake and said, in the same social network, that he got carried away by passion and that is why he criticized Messi on Sunday, but now calmer he showed repentance and even offered apologies to Messi and Argentina.

“These last few days I got carried away by the passion and love I feel for my country and made comments that were out of place so I want to apologize to Messi and the people of Argentina. Every day we learn something new and this time it was my turn,” the boxer commented on his Twitter account.

The controversy between Canelo Alvarez and Lionel Messi on Twitter added a new chapter this Monday night, in an unexpected space. The Mexican boxer spoke exclusively for the World Cup comedy show “Qu importa el Mundial” of the Mexican channel Imagen Televisin.

There he explained the reasons for his anger against the Argentinean star for sullifying a symbol that Mexicans respect (although it is not official), such as the jersey of one of the Mexican national teams.

Why is Canelo upset with Messi?

“The context is this: with the fans you can’t control when their emotion overflows and they can throw the flag, throw the jersey whatever. That we can’t control, because it’s an overflowing fanaticism. But I represent a country or a Nation and if I fight against an Argentinean I can’t grab their flag and trample on it,” Saul Alvarez said.

Therefore, Canelo considers that Messi’s action, although it was not intended to mock Mexicans or is a gesture of superiority after Saturday’s match in Lusail, is not a good example for sportsmen of global impact, as they are:

“We are setting a very fucking example, in very bad taste. One that is an example for a nation, for some children, for many people. We have to set an example and since the shirt is on the ground, there is a lack of respect,” Canelo Alvarez said.

Would Canelo forgive Messi with an apology?

Journalist Javier Alarcn alluded to some of those who intervened in the controversy who explained to the boxer that, in the soccer environment, this type of acts are not seen badly or considered an affront, so he asked him if “an apology from Messi or the Argentine Football Association, would be enough”:

“It’s not that, I have no need for him to say it (an apology). The truth is that I don’t expect that and I’m not going to expect it. But what I said is the person I am. I will always defend my country, I don’t care,” Canelo said. “I would just tell him what it is: ‘you screwed up, asshole, and accept it and apologize,’ period, and if not, I’ll slap him in the fucking face and that’s it.”

Canelo Alvarez got into a battle he will never win and the soccer media has let him know it and not for defending Lionel Messi, but because those who were in a locker room know that the jerseys are scattered everywhere and do not care about them.

The Messi’s video that provoked Canelo to leave is an example, it is not seen at any time that the Argentinean star has the intention of mocking or making fun of the Mexican National Team‘s jersey, besides, it is a piece of clothing, it is not the flag and there is no offense against the country. The only one offended is the Mexican boxer.

The first to speak out in defense of Messi and to point out Sal lvarez’s ignorance in soccer were Kun Agero and Cesc Fbregas, but more soccer players and ex-players have joined the conversation. These are opinions that are worth paying attention to, not those who work in the media and have never been on a soccer field, such as ESPN hosts David Faitelson and lvaro Morales, who never miss an opportunity to get involved in the controversy.

Messi adds defenders against Canelo

Former Barcelona player and TUDN commentator Marc Crosas exploded at the attention given to Canelo’s threat and described the controversy as absurd because “sweaty clothes are always on the dressing room floor”.

Also Mexican striker Alan Pulido asked not to invent with a “cheap news and make controversy”, since in the video it is appreciated that Messi does not kick the Mexico jersey.

“Stop wanting to invent cheap news and make controversy in something that makes no sense, Messi does not kick or step on any shirt of the Mexican National Team, for those who do not know much about soccer, that is normal in a dressing room, it is clearly seen that he wants to remove the stud,” Pulido wrote on Twitter.

Also, former Argentine soccer player Diego Latorre, who played in Mexican soccer for Cruz Azul and is now a commentator for ESPN Argentina called for sanity and for Sal lvarez to reconsider his opinion and leave aside “absurd nationalisms.”

“It would be necessary for Canelo to reconsider his position of using Messi’s soccer and human prestige to generate empathy with absurd nationalisms that have nothing to do with the spirit of a soccer match,” Latorre posted on Twitter.

What happened between Canelo and Messi?

In a video of Argentina’s celebration of its first World Cup victory, Messi can be seen lightly kicking Mexico’s jersey while trying to remove his shoes.

Canelo blew the situation out of proportion by taking to Twitter to express his frustration with Messi.

“Did you see Messi wiping the floor with our jersey and flag?” tweeted Alvarez. He better pray to God he doesn’t find him. Just as I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico! I’m not talking about the country as a whole, what Messi did,” Canelo said.