BARCELONA star Lionel Messi has been criticised by some football fans on social media for WALKING back as Dynamo Kiev pushed for a late equaliser.
The 33-year-old did score from the penalty spot as his side sneaked a 2-1 win against a side that had been hit by coronavirus withdrawals.
Many football fans were not happy with Lionel Messi not chasing the player back
Messi was happy for the Kiev player to saunter past
But a clip was posted to Twitter showing the six-time Ballon d’Or winner ambling back as the Ukrainians pushed for a dramatic draw.
It might have been ten seconds before the full-time whistle, but many footie fans still weren’t happy as Messi made no effort to try and snuff out an attack.
And, unsurprisingly, comparisons with his great rivals Cristiano Ronaldo were drawn.
One fan wrote: “This is the difference between Ronaldo and Messi, mentality.”
An Arsenal fan posted: “Ronaldo would never do that.”
Jason Coward was damning in his assessment of what he saw, writing: “This is pathetic.
“I’m all for the greatest player of time saving energy, and not running around like a headless chicken.
“But this is absurd, he’s talking the p*** now.”
Jose Rodriguez wrote that Messi should ‘sit on the bench’ for the rest of the season.
But others were keen to stress that the clip should not be taken out of context.
One Messi fan posted: “It was 10 seconds left of the game.
“Messi has played 10 90min games in the last 5 weeks including 2 tough ones in South America.”
And One Manchester United fan posted: “They’re 2-1 up with seconds left, shouldn’t he be busting a gut to get back?”
SunSport previously revealed how Messi also has no interest in the ball during the first few moments of games.
That’s because he used the time to study the opposition to see where he can exploit.
The simple sight of Messi in a Barcelona shirt is somewhat of a shock.
The club were rocked to the core this summer when their star man demanded a transfer, upset by things on and off the pitch.
After talks between the player, his father and agent Jorge and the Spanish giants, Messi decided to stay for one more season, when his contract will be up.
Manchester City have emerged as favourites to sign the Argentine and it would see a link-up once again with his former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.
Earlier this week club president Josep Maria Bartomeu was forced to step down after a vote of no confidence after a tumultuous summer.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu defends role in Lionel Messi transfer saga
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
