Lionel Messi waited on the pitch while other players left for their locker rooms at half-time on the FIFA World Cup 2022 quarterfinal match between Argentina and Netherlands. The No 10 went to referee and was seen discussing something.
Argentina took a first-half lead after Messi’s inch-perfect assist was pocketed by Nabuel Molina right past goalkeeper Noppert.
At the half-time when players walked into the tunnel, Messi stayed back to have a word with the referee. Fans on social media wondered what the two spoke about.
“How is Messi communicating with the ref? Is he speaking English? Or does the ref speak Spanish? 🤔” a Twitter user asked.
“Lionel Messi made EYE CONTACT with the ref during that conversation at half time. Autism rehab?? 👀” another one questioned.
Also read: Lionel Messi’s 5 FIFA World Cup assists is the highest for any player in knockouts since 1966
“Ref getting his orders of Messi get me through too the semi’s at whatever cost or your never work a game again!” a third one said.
Some complained that the officials are biased towards Messi and did not hand the Argentine legend a yellow card.
“I mean I get it, its Messi’s last WC but come on he needs to be treated equally, this ref seems to be really one-sided. Just my opinion,” a Twitter user said.
Also read: Why Marcos Acuna will miss semifinal vs Croatia if Argentina beat Netherlands
“Yes The Netherlands plays shit but the ref is definitely helping Argentina, if not only because of Messi,” one more added.
“This ref has lost the match. The obvious intentional hand ball by Messi getting no yellow. Then he fouls 2x in a row before getting called and neither were in the flow of the game, no card. The penalty Açuna drew was a dive. Just garbage,” a third one said on Twitter.
Messi converted a spot kick to take the game to 2-0 before Netherlands scored their first in the final minutes of the game.
