He’s considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, but even Lionel Messi isn’t immune to mockery. The Argentine forward was taunted by Monterrey supporters after the Mexican team beat Inter Miami 3-1 on Wednesday.
The CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final second leg defeat means Miami is eliminated from the competition 5-2 on aggregate, and some Mexican fans took delight in heckling the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Monterrey devotees could be heard chanting “Cristiano” at the BBVA Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, referring to Messi’s longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The game against Monterrey was Messi’s first in almost a month following a hamstring injury that he sustained in March.
A spectator shared a clip of the jeering fans to X, formerly Twitter, where it received over 19,000 views.
“Monterrey fans are chanting Cristano Ronaldo’s name to Messi as he’s losing 4-1,” wrote M (@madridfooty_) alongside the footage.
Newsweek has reached out to Lionel Messi for comment via Instagram.
Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry began in the late 2000s. The soccer legends regularly faced off while playing for Barcelona and Real Madrid, along with battling it out for the Ballon d’Or and Player of the Year awards.
Alongside Messi, the Portuguese forward is one of the most celebrated players of all time, awarded 35 official trophies to Messi’s 44. There is even a website dedicated to their rivalry—messivsronaldo.app—that has a detailed breakdown of the duo’s records, honors and stats.
However, the “rivalry” appears to be mostly driven by fans and the media, with Messi previously expressing admiration for Ronaldo.
“[Ronaldo] is a phenomenal player with a lot of quality. All the world knows, and that is why he is one of the best of the world,” the 36-year-old told reporters in 2017, after his team Barcelona lost the La Liga title to Ronaldo’s Real Madrid.
Messi’s acquisition in July helped to raise Inter Miami’s value to almost $1 billion, with ticket prices for games soaring following his signing.
Demand was so high for Inter Miami’s game against FC Dallas in August, the Texan team’s website crashed, and ticket prices reached $27,000 on resale websites.
Messi isn’t the only soccer star to join Inter Miami in recent years. The team, which was co-founded by David Beckham in 2018, has proved a magnet for ageing stars, including Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez and Spanish defender Jordi Alba.
