Messi grabs opponents by the neck: violent scenes in World Cup qualification

As part of the World Cup qualification, the football nations Argentina and Uruguay met, with the game ending with a score of 0-2. But aside from the score, other scenes caused a lot of conversation, especially about the Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi.

During the game there was an altercation between Uruguayan defender Mathias Olivera and Argentine player Rodrigo de Paul. Lionel Messi, known for his team camaraderie, stepped in to defend his teammate. However, the situation escalated when Messi grabbed Olivera by the neck. This scene led to a clash between players from both teams, which further heated up the already tense atmosphere on the field.

In addition to the physical altercations on the pitch, Uruguayan player Manuel Ugarte made an obscene gesture towards Rodrigo De Paul, which angered Messi and the Argentina team. After the game, Messi commented on the disrespectful gestures of some players on the pitch.

“I prefer not to say what I think about some gestures. These young people have to learn to treat older people with respect,” explained Messi, adding: “This duel was always intense and hard, but always with a lot of respect. They still have to learn a little bit.”