This Saturday was one of those nights that… Lionel Messi He had been searching for more than two years, when he finally found out Inter Miami To compete – more relaxed – and to conquer Major League SoccerAfter winning the League Cup in the first semester of his stay. Behind him 5-1 for New York City He achieved the double goal, becoming Eastern Conference champion, and his team would actually face the Canadiens Vancouver Whitecapschampion of the Western Conference, in the MLS final: the franchise headed by David Beckham has never won the North American League.
However, the decision to leave the European elite after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar did not take away his ambition. Quite the opposite: his attitude became more aggressive towards his competitors, as long as one of them hit him hard, made an extra gesture, or said something that made him angry. So it seems that the much lower level of play he has been accustomed to for decades is what led him to this A more annoying situation. Until a few years ago, it was unknown to him. Last night it happened again, this time with… Maximiliano Moralesan attacking midfielder who played for Racing.
In the first period, which was characterized by discussions and excessive friction, with 13 South Americans out of 22 players Initial field values In addition to the six Argentines who accompanied Messi on the field, there were three others in front of him (in addition to “Frascito”, Agustin Ojeda and Nicolas Fernandez Mercao), with the addition of two Brazilian defenders.
And in the context of the final match as well. After a goal Tadeo Allende (Marked A hat trick) Who opened the scoring, Moralez connected with the defender Maximiliano FalconeHe left the elbow on the Uruguayan’s chest. The development was already heating up before that violation for which the New York 10 received a yellow: Rodrigo DePaul He had already quarreled with him under the watchful eye of the Argentine star. Then, when he hit the defender, Messi approached, but was not received well by the other experienced man either 38 years old.
“What are you getting into?”Moralez took off first, without catching his sight or even making him Small pile At various points in what ended up being an extensive search. Because when he made that sentence, the Inter captain chased him. From the front, from the back, from the side and even with people in the middleBecause other competitors wanted to stop him. However, he fired off his powerful repertoire of insults.
And just when it seemed that the conversation could take a peaceful direction, a slight and merciless confrontation with the world champion appeared. “Your mother’s trick…, respect…!”was one of several phrases he put together in at least a minute of questioning. Although one finish was strange to him: “Mogolyk!”. Marcelo Weygandt He was booked on the pink side in a long brawl, but not Messi.
They never met again, although De Paul kept up the back-and-forth. So much so that at the moment of the second goal, “Motorcito” continued to say things to him, gesture and smile at him sarcastically (Moralez too) and then went to hug his loyal teammate and friend from the national team.
A year ago there was a change in shirts
He is not the first Argentine Which Lionel Messi clings to tightly. A few months ago this happened with Pedro de la Vegaappeared on Lanús, who plays for the Seattle Sounders, as they played in the League Cup Final. Words that, according to Bebo, stayed on the pitch because “They are my idols”: De Paul also participated in that discussion.
Although he has Paraguayan citizenship, Andres Cubas He was one of the other Argentines who met Messi. More than once. Perhaps because of the previous crosses between the Argentine and Paraguayan teams, but the biggest dispute occurred when he was tackled by the one who stood out in Boca. Vancouver, next weekend’s opponent in the grand final.
They will meet again to determine no less than the league champion. One game and in Miami. He will also have her as a competitor Thomas MuellerThe German who lifted the World Cup before his eyes in Brazil 2014 and was a nightmare for Barcelona several times with Bayern Munich.
We will see who is the champion, although a new battle appears to be on the horizon.