‘Disgusting Act’: Messi accused of threatening Argentina rival

Lionel Messi has been slammed for allegedly attempting to ban a fellow Argentinian from being called up for his country.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was involved in an ill-tempered clash during Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup final showdown with Seattle Sounders.

Miami eventually fell to a 3-0 defeat, with tempers spilling over come the final whistle. Messi was caught in the middle of an angry showdown with Argentina youth international Pedro de la Vega, while Rodrigo De Paul was also at the heart of things.

And it has now been revealed what Messi allegedly said. According to former MLS star Alan Gordon, he had promised to blacklist De La Vega from international contention.

Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF argues with Pedro de la Vega #10 of the Seattle Sounders FC during the Leagues Cup Final match. (Photo by Steph Chambers – Leagues Cup/MLS via Getty Images)

Speaking on the Major League Journeymen podcast, he said: “Messi told him – remember when they got into a little scuffle during the game. Messi told him to his face ‘You will never play for the national team as long as I am involved’. He basically blackballed him on the field. This happened. That is disgusting to me.”

De La Vega has since spoken out. And while he did not reveal what Messi said, he has attempted to smooth things over by claiming the argument was just part and parcel of the game.

He said: “Messi and [Rodrigo] De Paul? They are the greatest. They are world champions and they are my idols. The clash was just part of the game. I tried to stay focused and not take it personally. Facing them as an Argentine carries a different kind of pressure.”

Messi has been called up into Lionel Scaloni’s latest Argentina selection. And it could represent an emotional occasion for the forward as he prepares to play in his final World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires against Venezuela.