Lionel Messi's frustrations reached a boiling point on Thursday night as Argentina suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat to Paraguay in their World Cup qualifier, according to Pulse sport. The 37-year-old Argentine captain was seen unleashing his anger at referee Anderson Daronco, labeling him a "coward" in a heated halftime exchange.
Messi's outburst was sparked by several contentious decisions, particularly the leniency shown towards Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete, whose aggressive tackling went unpunished. The Inter Miami star's emotions got the better of him as he confronted Daronco with an accusatory finger-wag, fuming, "You are a coward, I don't like you!"
The defeat marked Messi's third consecutive loss, following back-to-back setbacks with Inter Miami in the MLS playoffs. Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, had taken an early lead through Lautaro Martinez but struggled to regain control after Alderete's second-half strike gave Paraguay the edge.
Despite dominating possession with 77%, Lionel Scaloni's side appeared blunt in attack, a rare slump for the typically potent Argentine offense. Messi, often the talisman for his team, found himself stifled, managing only three touches inside the opposition box and failing to register a single shot on target.
Scaloni was quick to defend his team and star player, saying, "I'm not here to criticize my players, I'm here to support them. We knew it was going to be a tough game. We're here to keep going and give confidence to many of the new players."
Messi's actions have sparked a mixed reaction online, with some praising his passion and others criticizing his lack of discipline. As Argentina prepares to face Peru next, fans will hope Messi can channel his frustrations into a more commanding performance.
The defeat raises concerns about Argentina's World Cup defense, and Messi's ability to lead his team to victory. With his emotions running high, Messi will need to regroup and focus on the task at hand - securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
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