Revealed: How MLS star Lionel Messi ‘complains’ to referees – with Inter Miami & Argentina icon taking a different approach to Cristiano Ronaldo
A leading match official has revealed how Lionel Messi “complains” to referees, with the Argentine taking a different approach to Cristiano Ronaldo.
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Honduran official Said Martinez has explained how Portuguese superstar CR7 can allow in-game passion to get the better of him, with emotion spilling out of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner when contesting decisions that he considers to be wrong.
WHAT REFEREE MARTINEZ SAID
In contrast, Messi – who has eight Golden Balls to his name – prefers to indulge in considered debate. Martinez has told Rely Maradiaga’s YouTube channel of dealing with the World Cup winner, having taken charge of his first match at Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup: “He doesn’t get angry easily. When he complains about something, he is usually calm.
“I saw the most humble gesture of Messi that day. The whole stadium was chanting his name and he came to shake hands with four Honduran referees. The stadium was chanting ‘Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi’, and he went to shake our hands and congratulated us and gave us a pat on the back and said what a good game and what a good job. That kind of thing is worth more than anything else.”