Messi criticized: scandal despite playing injured in the CONCACAF Cup!

Messi criticized: scandal despite playing injured in the CONCACAF Cup!

A scandal surrounding Lionel Messi is currently causing a stir in Major League Soccer. The Inter Miami soccer star, who was punished last Tuesday for violent behavior towards New York City assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy, is turning heads. Messi attacked Ballouchy during the MLS season opener and pinched his neck, resulting in an unspecified fine. Despite this incident, Messi showed his class in the following game against Kansas City and scored in his team's 3-1 win, which catapulted Inter Miami into the next round of the CONCACAF Cup, reported krone.at.

But the drama surrounding the former world star doesn't stop. In another incident that occurred during the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final first leg between Inter Miami and Mexican opponents CF Monterrey, an assistant coach got into a heated exchange with Messi's team. Nicolás Sánchez, Monterrey's assistant coach, expressed disrespect for Messi even though he did not play due to injury. Sánchez later apologized for his disrespectful comments but stressed his loyalty to his club. There was another tense moment during the game when Messi and Monterrey coach Fernando Ortiz clashed. Sánchez portrayed Messi as a "possessed dwarf" and described how Messi held his fist towards his face during the argument, further inflaming emotions. The incident was documented by audio recordings from FOX Sports, as fussballeuropa.com reported.

The accretion of these incidents casts a shadow over Messi's sporting achievements and upcoming matches, especially the second leg against Monterrey, scheduled for Thursday. There is still speculation about the use of Messi, who is currently suffering from muscular problems. As the football world awaits what's next, Messi remains the center of attention, both for his achievements and for scandalous incidents on and off the pitch.