“Here’s the fraud element" - When a broadcaster took shots at Lionel Messi after Argentina lost to Croatia
Lionel Messi was called a fraud by Canadian broadcaster Sid Seixeiro in 2018. He claimed that the Argentine was nothing without top players around him, and his national team records proved it.
Speaking on Sportsnet, Sid stated that Messi had a 'fraud element' about him that many do not want to accept. He claimed that the Argentine could do it all for Barcelona but couldn't come close to what his teammates did while he was on the national side.
He said via The Sun:
"Here is the fraud element of Messi that no-one wants to talk about, and I said fraud. Domestically, he's won everything there is to win at Barcelona. Here's how you know what Messi is about. When they were winning the best things at Barcelona, it was Messi, it was Xavi, Iniesta, David Villa. That was the team. When they would break from 2008 on and go their separate ways for major tournaments, Xavi and Iniesta and David Villa and all those Spanish guys from Barca, were winning tournaments."
"Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012. Messi, the second he steps on a field without that core, is average. And you have seen it in Copa America's; you have seen it at World Cup's, he's now gone 675 straight minutes without scoring a World Cup goal. Because Xavi's not there, because Iniesta's not there, because David Villa's not there. And the best players I've ever seen in my life, can play with anybody," he added.
Argentina were knocked out by Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup when Sid made the comments. He was furious with the Argentine and claimed Portugal ace Cristiano Ronaldo could do it with anyone around him.
Sid Seixeiro changed his tone on Lionel Messi after the FIFA World Cup win
Sid Seixeiro praised Lionel Messi and claimed that the Argentine was the greatest of all time when La Albiceleste won the 2022 World Cup.
He posted on X:
"Messi is the greatest of all-time. Debate is over."
Lionel Messi won the Copa America in 2021 and backed it up with the FIFA World Cup win in 2022. He helped Argentina retain the Copa America in 2024 but got injured in the final.