Watch: Brutal challenge on Lionel Messi sends Argentina players wild
Argentina comfortably beat Honduras 3-0 in their international friendly game in Miami on Friday night – but there was a worrying moment when one of the Honduras players smashed into star man and captain Lionel Messi.
In footballing terms, the win was as comfortable as one would expect for Argentina against Honduras.
Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring just after the 15-minute mark and Messi doubled La Albiceleste’s lead just before the break from the penalty spot.
Messi then added a third in the second period with a sensational lob from outside the area.
But Honduras made things uncomfortable for Argentina in other ways, as they usually do when facing high-quality opposition. (Or any opposition, if we’re honest).
A few minutes before the first-half penalty was given, Lionel Messi received the ball near the touchline. He drove forward, but was forced to turn back and Honduras player Deiby Flores saw his opportunity.
Flores barged straight into Messi’s face with his shoulder, leaving the Paris Saint-Germain player prostrate on the ground.
And if you needed any indication of just how important Messi is to his Argentina team-mates, you needed only watch their reaction.
Almost the entire Argentina team rushed to Messi’s defence, remonstrating with both Flores for the force of his challenge and vigorously suggesting to the referee that he might take action in the form of a card.
Rodrigo de Paul was particularly vehement in his protests, suggesting to the officials that Flores used his elbow.
No fisticuffs broke out, which is probably a good thing in a friendly, but you can understand why the Argentina players were so annoyed. The intent of Flores’ challenge is easy to spot.
After the game, Messi was asked what his message for the Argentinian people was.
He replied: “We are the same as them, as the people, with the same nervousness, desire and hope, but with tranquillity, because we have a great team, the World Cup is special and we have to take it step by step.”
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