Multiple world boxing champion and proud Mexican Canelo Alvarez has sensationally threatened Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi for apparently disrespecting his country’s flag.
Messi scored for Argentina in their vital 2-0 win over Mexico on Sunday to keep his nation’s World Cup dream alive, but it was vision of the Paris Saint-Germain forward and his teammates celebrating in their change room that got Alvarez’s blood up.
Alvarez, right, hits Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin in the fifth round of their super middleweight title bout in September. The Mexican champ is furious with Lionel Messi
Alvarez posted the above tweet threatening Messi for disrespecting the Mexican flag after Argentina won 2-0 in their World Cup clash on Sunday
As Messi sung and kicked his boots off, he appeared to kick a Mexican jersey or flag that was on the floor.
‘Did you guys see Messi cleaning the floor with our jersey and flag,’ Alvarez tweeted.
‘He better pray to God that I don’t find him.
‘Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico!
‘I’m not talking about the country as a whole, just about the bulls**t that Messi did.’
Footage from Argentina’s change room shows Messi stepping on a Mexican shirt or flag and then apparently kicking it as he takes his boots off
Argentinian fans were left stunned by the outburst.
‘He’s [Alvarez] just looking for attention since he’s no longer relevant. Honestly i never heard of him till now,’ one fan posted.
‘He clearly taking off his shoes,’ replied another.
‘All the punches Canelo took in his career is finally catching up to his brain. Its not working anymore,’ added another.
Even Mexican supporters were finding it difficult to back Alvarez’s claims, with most agreeing the Argentinian star was simply taking off his boots after the game.
‘They want to break [his] balls and take everything out of context, they are in the locker room celebrating and they are taking off their boots. Messi is the most humble and never denigrated anyone,’ one fan posted.
‘He was taking off his shoes,’ said another.
‘I agree with you, Messi is going to take off his boot and accidentally touches the shirt, they are taking all this out of context,’ agreed another.
Messi celebrates scoring a crucial goal for Argentina in their 2-0 win over Mexico to keep their World Cup dream alive
‘Help, it makes me cringe to be from Mexico right now,’ another fan posted.
Some Mexican fans bought into the hysteria, though, insisting that Messi intentionally disrespected their flag.
‘Surely they stepped on it and did what they wanted in the locker room and it was left on the floor, it’s a pity that they represent their country that way, the total admiration I had for them fell apart,’ one fan replied to Alvarez.
Messi himself was relieved to have scored the vital match-winner that keeps his nation’s World Cup hopes alive after their shock 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in the opening game of Group C.
‘We needed this euphoria,’ Messi said.
‘The days were very long, and we were eager to have the chance to turn it around. It was a critical game. [Winning] was a weight off our shoulders, and we now have peace of mind.’
‘The first half was difficult due to the situation and the need to win. We couldn’t find spaces.
‘In the second half, we started playing our game and doing what we stand for. … The goal changed the game.’
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