WATCH: “Disgusting behavior” – Lionel Messi bizarrely chips over a Real Salt Lake player who was down injured, faces fans’ wrath

A praise-worthy improvisation or 'disgusting behavior'? Lionel Messi faces the wrath of rival fans after chip over injured player goes viral.

WATCH: “Disgusting behavior” – Lionel Messi bizarrely chips over a Real Salt Lake player who was down injured, faces fans’ wrath

Lionel Messi chipping and injured player has caused uproar on social media (Via X/@ESPNFC)

Lionel Messi is nothing less than a hero for several millions of football fans. His humility, politeness and respect for opponents has put him in a bracket of players that are loved by many. However, the game between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake saw the Argentine be labelled as a ‘villain’ and receive harsh criticism for an act on the pitch.

Inter Miami beat Real Salt Lake in their MLS season opener by two goals to none. Lionel Messi and co. sailed to a comfortable 2-0 win over their opponents to give fans something to smile about. In spite of not getting on the scoresheet, the Argentine made all the headlines, that too, for a dribble. Even though the word ‘dribble’ is synonymous with the Argentine, this particular effort deserves mention.

YouTube video

The #10 picked up the ball at the edge of the box before dribbling across the penalty area. What surprised fans and ‘enraged’ many others was the fact that Messi decided to chip a player that was on the ground with an apparent injury.

FS Video

The sublime bit of skill was to no avail as his subsequent shot was blocked by an opposition defender.

Fans label Lionel Messi ‘disrespectful’ as Argentine chips player down injured

Lionel Messi has been branded as a villain on social media by angry rival fans following his bizarre dribble. The Argentine was attacked by many, who called him disrespectful and inconsiderate for chipping the ball over a man who was down injured. Others said that it was unsportsmanlike and that Messi should have stopped play. Some even wanted Messi to be penalized for the same.

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi started his MLS campaign with an assist for Robert Taylor (Via X/@intermiami)

No conversation about Messi is complete without Cristiano Ronaldo. Fans of the Portuguese superstar complained that had it been the #7, he would’ve been labelled ‘selfish’. Some even called his act as disgusting and that he could only do so in the MLS. That being said, a significant section of fans enjoyed the incident. Some hailed Messi for his ‘savage’ response to the situation while others simply had a good laugh at the video.

https://twitter.com/qwertyazertyl2_/status/1760502123911885058?s=20
https://twitter.com/TechPalsTalk/status/1760502451390583000?s=20

Miami went on to win the game 2-0 and are now top of the league. Even though many teams are yet to play their first game of the season, Lionel Messi and co. will be looking to right their wrongs from last season. As the #10 enters his first full season at the club, Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets will all look to lead the club to a play-off spot finish, if not lifting the MLS Cup.

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