Lionel Messi is now getting slammed on social media by football fans who noticed one of his seemingly pettier moments at the World Cup final game against Spain.
The drama took place after Enzo Fernandez, who already had a yellow card on him for dissent early on in the match, got a red added after his foul on Pau Cubrasi. The player was dismissed.
With their numbers dwindling to ten, the Argentine team surrounded Slavko Vinčić, the Slovenian referee, to protest.
In the middle of that, Marc Cucurella is seen approaching Messi to say something.
The player is seen putting his hand to his mouth for a split second before removing it immediately. Putting your hand to your mouth during a confrontation between players is banned under FIFA rules.
Messi caught the moment and reportedly saw it as an opportunity to take down Spain's numbers.
The Argentine player immediately started trying to the get the referee's attention, pointing at the rival team player attempting to get him punished for the gesture.
Wayne Rooney x-England skipper, told BBC Sport: ‘It is desperation. Argentina play like that, we know that’s what they do.” “But the one thing you want is good sportsmanship, and that was sad to see Lionel Messi doing that.”
Joe Hart also criticised Messi for exploiting the new rule, saying,“He didn’t cover his entire mouth—just two fingers. Isn’t that too harsh? I don’t want to see a player sent off in a World Cup final for something like that.”
Former England defender Lee Dixon, who spoke on ITV, said, “The game has gone if you're getting bookings and red cards for that.”
‘You shouldn't be such a baby to try and get someone sent off for that; it's ridiculous,” he said, criticising Messi's attempt.
The new FIFA rule on the gesture is one of the most scrutinised.
FIFA’s rules, however, have guidelines that allow the referee to consider the nature of the gesture and determine whether it was part of an inappropriate exchange.
Vinčić did not take any action in Cucurella’s case, as the gesture he made did not fall under the rule.
Earlier in the tournament, Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to be dismissed under the new regulation.
Ultimately, Messi's attempt did not affect the outcome. It also seemed like desperation as Spain had an upper hand in the games.
The team continued to control the ball with Ferran Torres scoring the only goal of the game during extra time, securing a victory against the defending Argentina team.
Messi is believed to be making his final World Cup appearance at the age of 39.
