‘He better pray to God that I don’t find him’: Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez calls out Lionel Messi
DOHA, Qatar - Mexican boxer Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez has some fighting words for Argentina superstar Lionel Messi.
Álvarez took to Twitter after Messi moved the Mexican national team jersey with his foot while celebrating his team’s much-needed World Cup win against Mexico on Saturday.
Boxer Canelo Alvarez poses on the scale during his official weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
In a series of tweets, Álvarez said that Messi "was cleaning the floor" with the Mexican shirt. He said it was a disrespectful attitude by the Argentina star toward the Mexicans.
Messi was taking his right shoe off when he — apparently without intention — moved the Mexico shirt which he had exchanged with a Mexican player after Argentina’s 2-0 win. The shirt was on the floor as the Argentines celebrated in the locker room.
Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Mexico. (Photo by Fu Tian/China News Service via Getty Images)
"He better ask God not to run into me," Canelo tweeted.
Former Argentina forward Sergio "Kun" Aguero came out on Messi’s defense.
"Mr. Canelo, don’t go finding excuses or creating trouble, certainly you don’t know soccer or what happens in a locker room," he said on Twitter. "The shirts are always on the floor after a match as they are sweaty."
However, Canelo doubled down on his opinion, writing, "Since the MEXICO shirt is on the ground, it's an insult."
Former Spain player Cesc Fabregas also defended Messi, saying it’s normal for players to leave the shirts on the floor before they can be taken to be washed.
The 35-year-old Messi is trying to win his first World Cup title with Argentina. The win over Mexico kept the Argentines in position to advance to the knockout round.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.