The clash between Argentine star Lionel Messi, Barcelona legend and current Inter Miami player, and Brazilian Rodrigo, a winger for the Brazilian national team and Real Madrid, grabbed attention during Wednesday's match between the two teams. The match ended with "Tango" winning 1-0 in the context of the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup.
The controversy began when Messi, the captain of Argentina, decided to withdraw his team players from the field due to the Brazilian security forces' attack on Argentine fans at Maracanã Stadium. In response, Messi urged the Brazilian team to start the match, leading to a heated exchange between him and Rodrigo.
In a statement to Messi, the 22-year-old Rodrigo said, "You are cowards." This statement did not sit well with Messi, who responded by grabbing Rodrigo's neck and shouting at him, saying, "Why are we cowards? We are world champions."
Several players intervened to defuse the conflict between Messi and Rodrigo, and the Maracanã stadium witnessed clear tension between the players of both national teams.
