'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has been hailed as one of the best footballers the world has ever seen. He is a sensational dribbler, an exemplary creator, and also happens to be a ruthless goalscorer.
In an ideal world, Lionel Messi would have no haters. Unfortunately, we do not belong to a utopian society, and hence, there are many who hate the Argentine with a passion.
Today we will try to figure out why people might have it in for the Paris Saint-Germain star. Here are the top five reasons why Lionel Messi is disliked by some:
#5 For not winning more with Argentina
Yes, we know all about Lionel Messi’s exploits in an Argentina shirt in the summer of 2021; how he guided Argentina to the Copa America. However, this summer’s triumph does not necessarily guarantee forgiveness for his previous mix-ups.
Trending
Argentina fans, in particular, might not have gotten past the last two Copa Americas Messi failed to deliver.
Before finally winning it in 2021, Lionel Messi’s Argentina reached two consecutive finals in 2015 and 2016. The match went to penalties on both occasions and Chile came out on top.
In the 2016 Copa America final, Messi stepped up to take an all-important spot-kick and missed, dramatically. The former Barcelona man even retired from his national team following the defeat.
Thankfully, he returned soon after and eventually guided them to their first major win in 25 years. Lionel Messi currently has the World Cup on his agenda, and he will do his best to win in Qatar in 2022.
#4 For being a Barcelona legend
Barcelona are one of the biggest football teams in the world. However, it also happens to be one of the most disliked. Thanks to some favorable decisions in the Champions League and a life-long rivalry with Real Madrid, Barcelona have their fair share of haters.
Messi, who spent 21 years at the club, has naturally been on the receiving end of some of the abuses.
Additionally, many believe that Lionel Messi only has the ability to play world-class football at FC Barcelona and in La Liga. They claim Messi would not be able to hack it in any other league and they will not stop until the Argentine proves him wrong.
Lionel Messi’s move to PSG in the summer has presented him with the opportunity to silence this particular fraction of haters. It will be interesting to see whether he can carry his majestic form over to the French capital.
#3 For being Cristiano Ronaldo’s biggest rival
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two best players of this generation. Their rivalry was at its fiercest during El Clasicos in La Liga, but the bitter aftertaste lingers to this day. Ronaldo fanatics do not want to give Messi credit for what he has achieved so far, claiming is far inferior to the Portuguese.
Messi fanatics also have the potential to be just as annoying. They often overhype the Argentine for the pettiest of things and tend to abuse Ronaldo and his fans just for the sake of banter.
The never-ending Messi-Ronaldo debate has turned into one of the most irksome events in football, and we hope for it to conclude sooner rather than later.
#2 For his tax scandals
Lionel Messi’s squeaky-clean image on the football pitch is an example to millions of aspiring footballers. However, if you focus on his personal life, you are bound to be a little off-guard. Messi, who happens to be one of the highest-paid footballers the world has ever seen, has committed tax fraud alongside his father.
Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month prison sentence after being found guilty of tax fraud by Spanish authorities in 2016. Alongside the sentence, he was ordered to pay a fine of €2 million. The father-son duo used tax havens in Uruguay and Belize to hide their earnings from image rights. They reportedly defrauded the country of €4.1m in two years, between 2007 and 2009.
Messi ultimately paid €252,000 to avoid the prison sentence, but his “pristine” image took a massive hit. The former Barcelona man is still being taunted for his tax fraud to this day.
#1 For simply being too good at his job
Lionel Messi is probably not the most lovable character out there, but he also has not done much to be disliked so diligently. Come to think of it, the Argentine only has one irredeemable, unfixable flaw - how good he is at football.
Lionel Messi won everything there was to win at Barcelona. He won 10 La Ligas, four Champions Leagues, two trebles, seven Spanish Cups and many more. Not only did Messi score a whopping 672 goals, but he also provided 301 assists in 778 appearances for the Catalan giants
There is not a single team out there that will not benefit from Lionel Messi’s genius and not many fans are ready for that conversation.
