Messi, the accusation of favoritism

Thanks to his status as a global star, would Lionel Messi be favored by referees? This is essentially what a Peruvian player who faced him last night deplored.

Tuesday evening, in the Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina beat Peru (1-0) on the twelfth day of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the Amsud zone. A victory thanks to a goal from Lautaro Martinez which allows the Albiceleste to consolidate its first place in the group.

At the end of the match, Paolo Guerrero nevertheless judged that his team could have obtained a better result. “I don’t know what your analysis and diagnosis is on this match but, physically, I believe we were on the same level. Afterwards, it’s a little difficult when the referee conditions you, he puts you in. They came at us throughout the match but did not commit a single foul (11 in reality, Editor’s note)”reacted the Peruvian defender at the microphone of Movistar Deportes.

Messi, don’t touch!

The former Hamburg player is particularly angry with the referee, whom he considered far too protective of the Argentine star.

“On the other hand, you touch Messi with your finger and he calls a foul. But no one says anything because it’s Messi. Losing like that, leaving empty-handed, it hurts a lot”lamented the 40-year-old striker.

During this meeting, the eight-time Ballon d’Or was guilty of insults towards Carlos Zambrano. “What haces bobo?” » (“What are you doing, stupid?”), he then said to him according to the images captured by Argentine television.