Do not be fooled by Lionel Messi’s small frame and footballing charm.
The Argentina superstar would not be among the greatest players of all time without a little fire in his belly.
His nation’s run to 2022 World Cup glory was characterised by antagonistic moments, fuelled by that famous South American football passion.
But before Messi clashed with Wout Weghorst, Louis van Gaal, and the whole of Holland – it was Edinson Cavani who got offered out by the Barcelona legend.
Argentina and Uruguay share one of the game’s most iconic rivalries – in a fixture that has been played more than any other.
They will meet again on March 21 for a World Cup qualification six-pointer, with Argentina top of the current CONMEBOL standings and Uruguay second.
Qualifiers are a different ball game in South America, where competition for World Cup places is notoriously fierce.
Combine this with some of the most hostile atmospheres in all of sport – and it is easy to see why these occasions sometimes boil over.
While Messi continues to share a close friendship with Uruguay legend Luis Suarez, a teammate at both Barcelona and Inter Miami, those feelings do not extend to La Celeste.
In 2019, during what was described as a ‘friendly’, Messi was involved in several heated exchanges with his Uruguayan counterparts.
Having been forced to ride a number of challenges in the first-half, a foul from Matias Vecino resulted in Cavani telling Messi to ‘fight it out’.
The Argentine responded by saying: “Whenever you want.”
Uruguay captain Diego Godin was seen intervening and trying to calm things down – but according to reports – the argument continued in the tunnel at half-time as both players traded insults.
The match would finish 2-2 after Messi scored a penalty in stoppage-time.
Speaking afterwards, ex-Man United striker Cavani said: “It’s part of football, Clasicos are like this.
“The truth is that it was at times a game that had friction, there were challenges and things that are part of football, especially of South American [football].
“We take positives from our performance and the fact that we were able to score two goals. We still need to improve but it’s good to end the year like this.”
Messi would again find himself at the centre of hostilities between the two nations in 2023.
Lionel Messi’s record against Uruguay
| Games | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals | Assists |
| 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
Uruguay beat Argentina 2-0 in their first defeat since the Qatar World Cup, but Rodrigo De Paul and Manuel Ugarte stole the headlines by sparking a mass brawl.
Ugarte, now at Man United, was seen gesturing an insult towards De Paul which made a crude reference about Messi.
Speaking afterwards, Messi told the Red Devils midfielder to ‘learn respect’.
“It’s normal. These kinds of games, qualifiers, against Uruguay, it’s always like that,” the 37-year-old said.
“I prefer not to say what I think. Young people have to learn to respect for their elders.
“This Classico was always intense, hard, but always with a lot of respect. They have to learn a little.”
With Argentina and Messi set to face Uruguay and then Brazil in the same week, who said the international break was boring?
