Lionel Messi exchanges heated words with Brazilian youngster Rodrygo after Argentina finally re-emerged from the tunnel following troubling scenes between fans and police in the stands
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul exchanged heated words with Brazil’s Rodrygo after the teams reconvened on the field following the clash between fans and police at the Maracana Stadium.
The start of the match was delayed by nearly a half hour when fights in the crowd between Brazilian and Argentine fans broke out, needing police to disperse the violence.
Several fans were seen ripping the seats off stadium chairs and using them as weapons.
Messi ultimately led the Argentinian team off the field at the Maracana until the violence stopped.
It’s unclear what started the violence in the stands or what was said to start the disagreement between the trio.
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul took exception with something said by Brazil’s Rodrygo
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Both the Ballon d’Or winner and teammate De Paul were seen furiously getting into Rodrygo’s face.
After the original trio came together, several other players from both teams joined in to make sure the conversation didn’t escalate further with Messi seen wrapping a hand around the back his opponent’s neck before he moved away.
Rodrygo and Rodrigo De Paul both play for Spanish clubs in the same city, at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid respectively.
Messi’s move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer over the summer hasn’t stopped him from being an integral member of the Argentine national team.
The rivalry matchup was contested as a World Cup qualifier from Rio de Janeiro, with Argentina winning 1-0 on a second-half goal from Nicolas Otamendi.
The game also featured a red card, given to Brazil’s Joelinton less than 10 minutes after he came into the match as a substitute.
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