WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

“They need to learn respect” -Messi on Ugarte’s obscene gesture towards De Paul

In Argentina’s first defeat since the 2022 World Cup opener, Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte made an obscene gesture to Rodrigo De Paul, which set off Leo Messi.

Uruguay did what no team has been able to do since the beginning of the 2022 World Cup - beat Argentina. During the 2-0 World Cup qualifier, tensions were high between the two South American teams. Things escalated further when Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte made this gesture to Rodrigo De Paul:

That set off Argentina’s superstar, Lionel Messi, who went straight towards Ugarte. After the game, Messi acknowledged what happened, saying that young people need to learn respect:

“Against Uruguay, it’s always like that. I prefer not to say what I think,” said Messi. “Young people have to learn to respect from their elders. This classic is always intense, difficult, but always with a lot of respect. They have to learn a little bit.”