Lionel Messi says Uruguay need to learn respect after facing off against Darwin Nunez’s side last night

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Lionel Messi was not happy after facing Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and Uruguay last night.

Messi was on the receiving end of a first national team loss in 360 days on Thursday, as Argentina lost 2-0 to a Nunez inspired Uruguay.

It doesn’t sound like it was a great performance from the Albiceleste. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister appeared to have a torrid night, being hauled off a half-time with his team a goal down.

And now, via quotes from journalist Fabrizio Romano on X, Messi has called out the behaviour of some of the Uruguay players.

“I prefer not to say what I think about some gestures,” moaned the 36-year-old. “But these young people have to learn to respect from their elders.”

“This game was always intense and hard but always with a lot of respect. They have to learn a little bit.”

Messi rails against Uruguay

Judging from the pictures accompanying Romano’s post today, we’re not really sure Messi has all that much to complain about here.

There appears to be some kind of scuffle involving a handful of players from each side. Amongst it, the Ballon d’Or winner can be seen grasping the throat of Uruguay defender Mathias Oliveira.

We’re all for respect on the football field, but you can’t bleat about civility on the pitch with your hands around the neck of a rival. It doesn’t work like that.

Instead, Messi’s words simply come off as those of a sore loser. Argentina have become used to everything going their way over the past year. Yesterday, it didn’t. Too bad.

Of course, that doesn’t excuse some of the antics of the Uruguayan players. The nation has often been derided as playing a little too much on the edge at times.

But anyone who remembers Argentina’s match against the Netherlands at last year’s World Cup can tell you that Messi and co can very much do the same.

Gladly, it didn’t appear that Nunez was involved in the incident that the Inter Miami man is referring to.

We’ve often seen Darwin get involved in these kinds of things when he really doesn’t need to. But thankfully, it looked like the Liverpool striker was focused purely on getting his goal instead. Attaboy, Darwin.