Lionel Messi Criticized: Pundit Highlights PSG Ineffectiveness

Jérôme Rothen of RMC Sport and former PSG player weighed in on Lionel Messi and Argentina. The analyst chastised the veteran and his teammates for their recent behavior during the November FIFA break.

During Tuesday’s Argentina-Brazil match, television images captured a heated debate between Brazil forward Rodrygo and Argentina stars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul.

As a result, Rothen slammed Messi and revisited his two seasons with PSG. He stated that the former FC Barcelona star had plenty of time to rest with the French giants in order for them to win the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

“Let’s start with the team’s star, Leo Messi,” Rothen said (via Le10Sport). “Now that he is world champion, and after resting at PSG for two years for the World Cup… He had the image of an endearing boy, but now that he has been apprehended by the patrol, his true personality emerges.

“Now, there are about ten people in this team who resemble Argentines… I’m afraid to generalize and say to myself, “In fact, it’s the Argentine nationality that’s like that.” You believe you are someone else. You have a sense of superiority. Their behavior has taken me by surprise. They could be more refined.”

Apart from Rodrygo, Messi had a disagreement with PSG’s newest signing, Manuel Ugarte. During the Uruguay-Argentina match, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner chastised the midfielder for his behavior against De Paul.

Ugarte made an unsuitable gesture toward De Paul. Messi encouraged younger players to emulate the team’s elders, emphasizing Luis Suárez in particular.