Inter Miami’s visit to Donald Trump brought a wave of negative criticism towards Lionel Messifor shaking hands with a president whose political agenda is against human rights and accentuated by an intolerance close to the radical right.
Around the world, Messi was singled out for agreeing to be present at the protocol ceremony that US leaders have to recognize the best athletes or sports teams. His critics and detractors believe that he should have refused and not attended.
Javier Mascherano’s defense
Inter Miami’s coach and former Barcelona and Argentina teammate came out in defense of his player. He was blunt in his positioning, without giving more elements for controversy, Mascherano indicated that it was a meeting that is part of the political and sporting life of the United States since the last century.
We comply with a protocol that is a tradition: to come to the White House for being the champion team. It was planned a long time ago for the week in which we would play here in Washington
Through a Zoom press conference, he settled the discussion that has placed the world soccer genius at the center of a controversy that does not require the dimension that is being given to it.
The comparison with Maradona
As has been the case since the beginning of his career, Messi was once again compared to ‘Pelusa’. Now it was not a question of the pitch but of affinities and political convictions.
While Maradona was a political footballer who sympathized with the left and openly criticized the right, Messi is the opposite: a player who stays out of it. However, after meeting with Trump in compliance with Inter Miami’s agenda, Leo was the victim of ridicule.It was even said that this was why he was not the best soccer player of all time. Fans of his came to his defense arguing that Maradona was friends with dictators and that there is nothing wrong with being apolitical and attending a traditional event in the United States in relation to sports.
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