Lionel Messi’s farewell celebration was marred by criticisms on social media of his apparent brutal snubbing of a Benin player keen to take a picture with the retiring superstar.
The 39-year-old’s retirement has been in the works since his country’s ultimately heartbreaking run to the World Cup final and defeat to Spain.
The diminutive Argentine received a well-planned hero’s send-off in Buenos Aires in a friendly against Benin – a nation whose team is ranked 93rd in FIFA’s ranking – hoping to provide his final win.
But while the goodbye left his team-mates, family, and fans in the stands in tears as he paid tribute to his country and his late father Jorge, those online highlighted the superstar seeming to bypass a member of the opposition during the post-match festivities.
The player put his arm around Messi as he looked to take a picture with the football icon but the 39-year-old appeared to blank him.
He then continued doggedly to attempt to capture the special meeting, following Messi until his team-mate Amiro Amadou eventually intervened to suggest that he give up.
Lionel Messi was approached for a selfie by a Benin player but appeared to snub his rival
After the superstar’s farewell match against the West African nation, the retiring legend was criticised on social media for appearing in no mood for pleasantries
Messi attracted widespread criticism for the perceived gesture, with one fan saying: ‘There’s nothing to laugh or cry about here!! Messi totally ignored all the Benin Players that wanted a selfie!
‘The easiest thing to do! Will take just seconds! What a shame! Nonsense!!’
Another added: ‘I felt bad for that Benin player that was trying to take a selfie with Messi (weeping emoji).’
A third stated: ‘Bro only wanted a selfie but Messi treated him like trash (heartbreak emoji).’
But others were quick to suggest that Messi was merely overwhelmed by the moment, as he was set to give a touching speech which brought his team-mates to tears and took in the recent death of his father Jorge.
After thanking his team-mates, Messi mused: ‘This may be the saddest day of my career, leaving the national team. But I’ll be here supporting whoever comes next. When we are united we are stronger than anyone else.’
He ended his speech with gratitude: ‘I don’t want to leave this place. I don’t want to leave the field. I love all of you, and I will miss all of you. I am proud to be Argentinian.’
Also causing controversy on the emotional night was the return of Argentina’s incendiary World Cup banner claiming their national sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
Eyebrows were raised by the singer of the Argentine national anthem, Falklands War veteran Fabio Santana, who stood beside the same flag which was thrown down from the crowds after Argentina defeated England in their World Cup semi-final meeting.
Argentina also courted controversy with the return of the World Cup ‘Malvinas’ banner, which the federation were previously fined over
Santana then wrapped himself in the flag and embraced Messi, displaying the banner’s ‘Malvinas’ message which translates to ‘the Falklands are ours’.
The Argentina football federation was fined a staggering £237,000 after players displayed the banner after victory Stateside and sang anti-English songs.
The message was painted on a hotel bedsheet and smuggled into the stadium before the incendiary clash, with a member of the Argentina national team set-up confirming with a picture on social media that the banner was taken back to the team’s hotel after the final whistle.
Before the grudge match, tensions had been inflamed by Argentine ministers and journalists reasserting the country’s claim to the islands, and after the banner was displayed, the backlash in the United Kingdom was fierce.
UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle said it was ‘entirely inappropriate’ to wave the banner, praising England for acting with dignity in ‘real contrast with what we saw with the Argentina team’.
