Messi commented on De Paul experiencing a sexual insult, stating that while it may be common, emphasizing the significance of maintaining respect is crucial.
Young individuals were urged to glean lessons in respect from their seniors as Argentine star Lionel Messi addressed a contentious incident during his country's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay. Despite Argentina's 2-0 loss, the spotlight was on a heated altercation between Uruguay's Manuel Ugarte and Argentina's Rodrigo de Paul.
Messi, who escaped a red card for elbowing Ugarte, commented on the incident, saying, "It is normal in this type of match in the World Cup qualifiers against a team like Uruguay. I do not tend to say everything that is on my mind, but young people must learn respect from their elders. These classic matches have been known for their difficulty for years, but with a lot of respect, so the current generation needs to learn this."
Regarding the defeat, Messi acknowledged, "We never felt comfortable throughout the match. Uruguay is a physical team that works well, especially in counterattacks, but in any case, the loss was a test for us, and now we have to get up and play a great match against Brazil."
Argentina currently leads the South American World Cup qualifiers with 12 points, but maintaining the lead will require a victory against Brazil in the upcoming week.