Canelo Alvarez threatens Lionel Messi for disrespecting Mexican flag, ex-teammate Sergio Aguero defends

World champion boxer Canelo Alvarez has called out Lionel Messi for disrespecting the Mexican flag (Al Bello, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
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DOHA, QATAR: World Champion boxer Canelo Alvarez has threatened Argentina captain Lionel Messi for allegedly "disrespecting" his country’s flag after Mexico lost to Argentina by 0-2. In the after game clip, Argentines can be seen celebrating their group match success, singing with his teammates, and appearing to have kicked a Mexican jersey or flag that was down on the floor. On Sunday’s game, November 27, Messi scored a crucial goal to keep his nation’s world cup dream alive.

“Did you guys see Messi cleaning the floor with our jersey and flag,” tweeted Alvarez. “He better pray to God that I don't find him. Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico! I'm not talking about the country as a whole, just about the bulls**t that Messi did,” the Mexican boxer added. There were mixed reactions from fans across the border with many suggesting that Messi was simply taking his boots off and accidentally touched the Mexican flag down on the floor.

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Former teammate Sergio Aguero defended Messi and tweeted, “Mr. Canelo, don't look for excuses or problems, surely you don't know about soccer and what happens in a locker room. The shirts are always on the floor after the games are over due to sweat and then if you see well, he makes the movement to remove the boots and accidentally hits it.”

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Footage from Argentina's change room shows Lionel Messi stepping on a Mexican shirt or flag and then apparently kicking it while taking his boots off (netordgz/TikTok)

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Messi expressed deep satisfaction after winning their Group C encounter as the pressure was building on the South American nation after a shock defeat to opener game against Saudi Arabia 1-2. The PSG forward said, “We needed this euphoria. The days were very long, and we were eager to have the chance to turn it around. It was a critical game. [Winning] was a weight off our shoulders, and we now have peace of mind.” He went on in his post-match interview, as reported by the Daily Mail, “The first half was difficult due to the situation and the need to win. We couldn't find spaces. In the second half, we started playing our game and doing what we stand for. … The goal changed the game.”

Argentina is set to face Poland in their next encounter this week, where the European squad’s spirit would be high from a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

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