Lionel Messi and Argentina are in Qatar, preparing for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The La Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni has picked a strong 26-player squad as the nation aims to build on their 2021 Copa America triumph to go all the way in the world tournament. The two-time world champions possess the likes of Angel di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala alongside Lionel Messi in their attack, which however could have been more lightening.
Scaloni had named Manchester United academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho in his preliminary 30-man squad which was then cut down to 26. Garnacho has been in blistering form for the Red Devils under their new manager Erik ten Hag, and sowed all signs of making the final cut of his national team for the World Cup. However, much to his disappointment, the 18-year-old winger has not travelled to Qatar with the Argentina team which will contest in football’s biggest festival starting this weekend. And the reason, as per El Nacional for Garnacho not being amongst the 26 is none other than Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi blocks Garnacho’s entry after his GOAT claims
According to El Nacional, Argentina captain Lionel Messi is not happy with Garnacho’s newly found love for his long time rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Garnacho has been linking up with the Portugal international at United, and also admitted that playing alongside him was a ‘dream come true’. The teenaged winger has been in the awe of Ronaldo, despite the No.7 not playing more frequently this season at the club.
However, Ten Hag has handed Garnacho most of his playing time in the Europa League, where Ronaldo has started every game. As a result, the 18-year-old has enjoyed ample time on the pitch alongside the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who also assisted Garnacho’s maiden strike for the Red Devils which helped them clinch a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in the Europa League. The Argentine then labelled Ronaldo as the ‘GOAT’ in a social media post, which reportedly has irked Messi.
Garnacho also claimed Ronaldo is his footballing idol, and he looks up to the Man United legend for inspiration. He further has posted a string of pictures of himself with the Portuguese icon, only to add to the frustration of his national team’s captain, and Argentina’s ‘Messiah’ Leo Messi. Garnacho’s constant heaping of praise on Ronaldo and calling him the GOAT, which he formerly conferred to Messi has altogether contributed to his axing from Argentina’s World Cup squad, adds El Nacional.
The PSG forward feels Garnacho has betrayed him by first naming him as the best player in the history of the sport, and later switching his alliance to Ronaldo. Messi is usually known for being a clam personality, but when it comes to be called out, the 35-year-old doesn’t take it lightly, as was evident when he slammed former Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu for making some empty promises to him.
Moreover, it is no secret that Messi has a significant say in Argentina squad selection, regarding who plays and who doesn’t. There are multiple cases where the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has had issues with some of the Argentine players, who have been ostracized from the national team on his orders. Paulo Dybala, who only recently has returned to the fold, was left out for a long time after Messi reportedly was not happy with his performances for the La Albiceleste. Mauro Icardi is also one of them who, on the demands of the former Barca player is constantly kept away from the national team.
Apparently, Garnacho has now entered the ‘bad books’ of his national team captain, which has already cost him a ticket to the Qatar World Cup. The winger has displayed good form for the Red Devils so far, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists in 8 games in all competitions. However, that was not enough for him to be called up by his national side, as he will now have to do a damage control, before he gets overlooked constantly till Messi dons the Argentina shirt.