Gary Neville’s half-time comments about Lionel Messi look to have been overstated after the superstar netted a crucial strike in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday evening.
After Argentina's humiliating 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the clash was effectively a must-win game for the South Americans, who had been touted as one of the favourites to win the trophy pre-tournament.
A lethargic-looking first half from Messi drew criticism from a handful of pundits including Neville, who was on punditry duty for ITV alongside Roy Keane and Joe Cole. All three noted the attacker’s seeming reluctance to break into a sweat, and Neville delivered a damning verdict.
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"Players aren't fearful of Lionel Messi anymore. They are taking the ball off him easily," he said. Messi was more involved in the second half and found the pivotal breakthrough on 64 minutes, firing a low shot into the corner of the net, meaning he’s scored in each of his last six Argentina outings.
Highly-regarded Enzo Fernandez, who has been linked with United, got the second of the game three minutes from time to wrap up all three points.
This is expected to be Messi’s last appearance at a World Cup with, the striker set to be 39 by the time the 2026 finals come around. Saturday’s strike was his eighth World Cup goal, equalling the great Diego Maradona’s tournament record, two years and a day after his passing.
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher jokingly mocked Neville for his comments about Messi at half-time in the Mexico contest. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “My mate @GNev2 is having as bad a tournament as Infantino!”
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