What made Argentine football star Lionel Messi endearing to the football lovers over the years is not just his mesmerising skills with the ball at his feet, but also his humility and respectful attitude towards his opponents. It put him the league of other legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer, in sports.
But, this year, the world is seeing a different side of the affable 35-year-old. During the semifinal against Columbia at the Copa America, he was seen mocking Columbia's Yerry Mina, after the latter missed a strike in the penalty shootout. Mina is no saint – his 'thumb-suck and dance' celebration after scoring in the penalty shootout against Uruguay in the quarterfinal might have been the trigger for Messi's taunt.
Messi, fuelled by a desire to win football's ultimate prize at likely his last attempt - was right in the middle of it all again during the narrow win in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands. After scoring a penalty to put Argentina 2-0 ahead, he stopped in front of the Netherlands dugout and cupped his hands around his ears. It appeared to be a jibe toward outspoken Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who said before the game that his team would look to take advantage of Messi's perceived lack of work rate off the ball. The gesture mimicked a goal celebration sometimes used by former Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who, reportedly, had disagreements with van Gaal when they were both at Barcelona in the early 2000s and had to leave the Catalan club to make a name for himself in Spanish football.
At the end of the game, Messi could be seen gesticulating at the 71-year-old Van Gaal and also went face-to-face with Edgar Davids, a member of the Dutch technical staff.
Messi was one of 17 people - players or coaching staff - to be given a yellow card, which is a record for a World Cup game. He received his booking in the final seconds of regulation time for dissent, though it could have come much earlier when he patted the ball away deliberately with his hand.
Finishing the game with a bloodied and slightly puffy top lip after running into Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber, Messi took aim at Spanish referee Antonio Mateu, saying he was not up to the standard and was "very harmful for us”, and also broke off from his post-match interview on the field to shout abuse at Wout Weghorst, the scorer of the Netherlands' two goals, saying, “Que miras, bobo?” (meaning, 'What are you looking at, silly').
Though Messi was criticised by some commentators for being respectful towards his opponents – Argentine players taunted the Dutch following the final penalty kick - it has become a hit with Argentine football fans. World governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against both sides.
The phrase is being printed on T-shirts and mugs, and fans are even tattooing it on their bodies. "I think it's a great message to say that Latin America is not inferior to Europe," Reuters quoted a fan, Nicolas Melana, who had Messi's Spanish words tattooed on one leg and an image of the ear-cupping gesture on his other, in Buenos Aires, as saying. "It was a perfect message."
Messi's antics have also made fans compare him to the flamboyant Argentine legend Diego Maradona, who was as infamous for his outbursts as he was famous for his skills. Internet memes, too, have proliferated since the ill-tempered match. T-shirt sellers, restaurants and bakeries, too, have been making a killing amid the frenzy.
The 35-year-old Messi is seeking his first World Cup, and Argentina's third, on his fifth and final attempt.
