Rodrygo racially insulted after calling Messi and the Argentinians 'cowards'

An important game like Brazil – Argentina could not finish without a trouble. It was a sad day for the hosts, who are in terrible form and now lost their first World Cup qualifying game at home, and what’s worse, from arch-rivals Argentina. The crowd trouble between the supporters of the two nations, already seen at the Copa Libertadores at Maracana stadium (Boca Juniors vs. Fluminense) at the beginning of November continued in this match too, just after the anthems. Lionel Messi took his teammates to the locker room for 20 minutes, before things calmed down. For that, he was criticized by Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

“You are acting like cowards, don't you want to play the game?” Rodrygo told Messi, who didn’t like the provocation at all.

“You are a kid, you have to look at your mouth. Who are cowards? He responded.

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Then the discussion went on between the pair during the game, whenever there was an opportunity for it, like when there was a foul or if someone needed medical attention. Messi was clearly annoyed by the ‘coward’ claim and wanted an explanation.

“Look at your mouth kid, shut up, look at your mouth and wake up little kid. We are the World champions, cowards of what? I’m asking you, come on, say it, come on. I became champion here, at Maracana” said Messi at one point, since Argentina won Copa America in Brazil 2021, at the same stadium.

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After the match, Rodrygo was a subject of a racial abuse on social networks.

“Racists are always on duty. My social networks were invaded with insults and all kinds of nonsense. It's there for everyone to see! If we don't do what they want, if we don't behave as they think we should, if we wear something that bothers them, if we don't lower our heads when we are attacked, if we occupy spaces that they think are theirs alone, racists take action with his criminal behavior. Their bad luck. We will not stop!” he wrote on X.