The internet has reacted with a mixture of scorn and sympathy (mostly scorn) to Lionel Messi’s latest World Cup misfortune, after Argentina suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod.
Messi’s team went down to a crushing defeat in their second Group D fixture, leaving Argentina in real danger of missing out on reaching the last 16 in Russia.
As the debate rages over what Barcelona star Messi’s misfiring performances in Russia mean for his status as arguably the greatest of all time – GOAT for short – some Twitter users were quick to put the boot in.
Messi this World Cup… GOAT 🐐😂😂😂 #ARGCRO #Messi #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/c2x3ZDt8mm
— Christopher (@TopperLDN) June 21, 2018
Others said they felt Messi had clearly gone missing when his teammates were in their hour of need.
Wanted
Name: Leo Messi
Age: 30 pic.twitter.com/8CtLIOzoMB— Isa Okiror (@isa_okiror) June 21, 2018
Some compared the Barcelona star’s poor performances in Russia to rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s blistering start, after the latter scored four goals in two games so far.
Ronaldo – Carrying his nation on the biggest stage. Messi – Going missing when his country needs him the most
— Lee Daggett (@Lee_Daggett) June 21, 2018
Argentina could still salvage their knockout stage hopes, but that will depend on the result of the Iceland versus Nigeria game tomorrow and the last round of group games on Tuesday, when the Argentines face the Super Eagles and Iceland meet an already-qualified Croatia.
