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Lionel Messi has inadvertently provoked Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez, with the fighter posting a warning to the soccer star.
After Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi posted a video of locker room celebrations following his country's 2-0 win over Mexico in the FIFA World Cup, Alvarez took exception and has come out fighting on Twitter.
Argentina's captain, Messi, can be seen joining in chanting and as the camera pans around he appeared to touch a Mexican jersey on the floor in front of him, while taking off his boots.
This was seen as an act of disrespect by Alvarez—a multiple world champion in four weight classes, from light middleweight to light heavyweight—who then shared his anger on social media.
What were the threats by Alvarez?
Alvarez felt that Messi's actions were intentional and took to Twitter to express his anger and tell the soccer star that he had better avoid him in the future.
Alvarez tweeted: "Did you see Messi cleaning the floor with our jersey and flag????
"He better pray to God that I don't find him!! Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico!
"I'm not talking about the country as a whole, just about the bulls*** that Messi did."
Many fans replied to the tweet, trying to point out that they believed Messi only touched the jersey as he took his boots off and that it was accidental and not a sign of provocation or disrespect.
Alvarez disagreed though and continued to criticize the Argentine star, saying that Messi had already "insulted" Mexico before "kicking" the jersey.
The boxer tweeted: "From the moment the Mexico jersey is on the floor it's already an insult.
This prompted a response from former Argentina striker Sergio Agüero who replied: "Mr. Canelo, don't look for excuses or problems, surely you don't know about soccer and what happens in a locker room.
"The jerseys are always on the floor after games due to sweat and then if you see well, he makes the movement to remove the boot and accidentally hits it."
Canelo was having none of that and quote tweeted Aguero, calling him a "hypocrite" in the process.
He wrote: "You too, b******? You used to write me, 'oh, oh, Canelo', and now you're crying. Don't be a hypocrite, b******."
Who has agreed that Messi was "offensive"?
Many sports personalities have waded into the furor, among them two-time world heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury.
Speaking to YouTube channel, Pro Boxing Fans, Fury said that he had seen the video of Messi and that Alvarez had every right to be upset.
Fury spoke as candidly as ever by saying: "I've seen Messi wiping the floor with a Mexico shirt and Canelo threatening to punch his teeth in… best thing for him.
"You don't do stuff like that with people's country's, it's offensive so if Canelo sees him, left hook to the body, right uppercut, headbutt, bang, get out of there son, teeth all over the floor."
Who has spoken in Messi's defense?
UFC fighter Santiago Ponzinibbio jumped to Messi's defense after he was threatened by Alvarez.
The Argentine fighter told MMA Fighting: "I was p*****! No point threatening Messi. Everybody knows Messi's career. If [Alvarez] doesn't know he shouldn't say a thing. It's normal for players to throw jerseys on the ground, they are all sweaty, but he didn't do anything disrespectful.
"Everybody that knows Messi knows he's an impeccable athlete and a very respectful person.
"[Messi] had an excellent match. I was upset. Brother, if you want to fight, I'm ready, but leave Messi be. You mess with Messi, you mess with the entire Argentina. Don't bother the kid."
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