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Football

24th Nov 2023

Rodrygo’s father calls out Lionel Messi after heated confrontation

Callum Boyle

Lionel Messi Rodrygo

Rodrygo’s father wants the truth

The father of Real Madrid and Brazil star Rodrygo has taken aim at Lionel Messi after he and his son exchanged verbals before Brazil’s 1-0 defeat against Argentina.

Nicolas Otamendi’s second half header was the difference between the two on Wednesday however the start of the game was marred by trouble in the crowd.

Fans from both sides clashed in the Maracana, leading to Brazilian police officers entering the Argentina end and wielded batons.

Emiliano Martinez jumped into the crowd to push away a police baton before he was restrained by his teammates who then all went back to their dressing room.

Kick off was delayed by 30 minutes.

Both sides eventually retuned after Messi guided them down the tunnel, leading to Rodrygo directing a comment towards the Inter Miami captain and his teammate, Rodrigo De Paul.

According to reports, the 22-year-old said: “You are acting like cowards, don’t you want to play the game?”

Messi is said to have responded by saying: “We are the world champions, how are we cowards? Keep your mouth, watch your mouth.”

Two days on from the dramatic events and Rodrygo’s father has poured more fuel on the fire by aiming a sarcastic comment towards the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

He wrote: “Is anyone surprised. The saint that doesn’t mess with anyone.”

Rodrygo then revealed that he received racist messages after the game.

“Racists are always on duty. My social networks were invaded with insults and all sorts of nonsense,” he wrote on Instagram.

“If we don’t do what they want, if we don’t behave as they think we should, if we wear something that annoys them, if we don’t lower our heads when they attack us, if we occupy spaces they think are theirs alone, the racists will act out their criminal behaviour. Bad luck for them. We won’t stop.”

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