In the World Cup final clash between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium, Lionel Messi faced criticism from Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards, and Joe Hart for his attempt to have Marc Cucurella sent off in a sneaky manner. The incident occurred late in the game after Enzo Fernandez received a red card for a foul on Pau Curbasi during stoppage time.
Messi, who was already on a yellow card for dissent, was seen engaging with Cucurella, prompting Messi to signal to the officials that Cucurella had covered his mouth while speaking. Despite Messi’s efforts, no action was taken against Cucurella, and the game proceeded to extra time.
Rooney, Richards, Hart, and Gabby Logan from the BBC panel expressed disappointment at Messi’s actions, with Richards describing it as a harsh move in a World Cup final. The panel discussed the incident, with Hart noting the desperation in Messi’s actions and Rooney emphasizing the importance of good sportsmanship.
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