Argentine legend Ossie Ardiles has likened Lionel Messi to Diego Maradona, convinced that supporters are absolutely ‘loving’ the other-worldly superstar’s new-found aggression.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar is currently setting the World Cup ablaze as he continues to inspire his nation to the ultimate international prize in football.
The Argentine star was caught right smack in the center of the post-match histrionics and squabbles after feistily reprimanding Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal for talking ‘too much’ pre-match.
The post-match fracas and embellishments seemed to have elicited a hidden aggression from the 35-year-old football legend world that has suddenly been impassioned and set loose under extenuating circumstances. Whilst almost the entire football world is very aware of the talent that the diminutive superstar possesses, the slight aggression hitting out at aggressors has caught some fans of the seven-time Ballon d’Or awards winner by surprise.
However, suffice it to say that despite this darker side of Messi revealing itself after having been embroiled in incendiary post-match trysts with Louis van Gaal and Wout Weghorst after Argentina’s penalty-shootout victory in the quarter-finals, Argentine legend Ardiles is certain that this other side of Messi has been well-received by his adoring legions of Argentina fans.
Ardiles, writing for the Daily Mail, said: “I know in England some people were surprised at his aggressive reaction after the Holland game, the confrontation with Louis van Gaal and some Dutch players.
“But you have to remember the context. While England remains the No 1 European team for us to beat, Holland is the No 2. It started in 1974 when we lost 4-0 to them. So it is a long story with a lot of bad blood.
“Van Gaal had tried to get Messi to react before the game, inflaming the fire by talking about how Messi didn’t defend well for the team. Then, during the penalties, the Dutch players were constantly trying to disrupt the Argentinian players, playing mind games by walking up to them and celebrating by them if they missed.
“This isn’t to justify what happened but to understand it. There was a lot going on, unsavoury scenes from both sides.
“But in Argentina many people loved this new image of Messi. It wasn’t normal for him. It was more of a Maradona reaction, which means the people love him even more.
“The old perception was that he was cold and not passionate. Now they his feel his desire to win for Argentina. We are Latin people. We react and show our emotions. Sometimes maybe we overreact.”
Argentina face Croatia in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, with commentary live on talkSPORT.