Lionel Messi finally loses his sh*t

By which we name the best footballer of all time a prick.

So who’s this week’s prick then?
Lionel precise bloody Messi for lastly in the end dropping his head within the a hundred and twentieth minute of his 753rd sport and getting the primary crimson card of his fairly respectable membership profession.

What’s he completed?
Cursed with the form of greatness that makes everybody else need to kick and foul you, Messi has in some way managed to keep away from retaliating and getting himself despatched off in membership soccer for 15 and a half years. Till now.

With Barcelona making a bollocks of the Tremendous Cup in opposition to Athletic Bilbao, Messi lastly snapped and gave Asier Villalibre a smack within the head within the remaining minute of extra-time.

Messi sees crimson for an off-the-ball swing. pic.twitter.com/PAW8cm95OR

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 17, 2021

We additionally like this video as a result of due to the caption “VAR CHEQUEANDO POSIBLE TARJETA ROJA – CONDUCTA VIOLENTA” we’ve discovered that we are able to truly converse good Spanish (see additionally “Supercopa de Espana”).

Villalibre additionally had an impressive sport, by the way in which. Beginning as a sub, he got here off the bench to attain the 90^th-minute equaliser that took the sport into extra-time after which spent most of extra-time falling to the bottom and usually making a nuisance of himself earlier than ultimately antagonising the world’s biggest participant to the extent that he smacked him within the head. Absolutely at this level you’re considering that’s a strong day’s work; it will be silly to attempt to squeeze any extra out of this one good day.

You’d be improper, although. Villalibre topped the whole lot off by fairly actually blowing his personal trumpet throughout Athletic’s celebrations after a 3-2 win earned their third Tremendous Cup.

🔴⚪️ 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗖!

🏆 #DenonAmetsa 💭 #BiziAmetsa #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/2F1NmCVmEt

— Athletic Membership (@Athletic_en) January 17, 2021

As an apart to the apart to the apart right here, Tremendous Cup is a a lot better identify for this sort of factor than Group (or certainly Charity) Defend. There are few issues extra embarrassing in English soccer than golf equipment making an attempt to say the Group (or Charity) Defend as a professional piece of silverware, but actually it needs to be. Huge a part of the issue certainly the actual fact it’s a protect, and due to this fact by definition the form of trophy that needs to be received by an U13s facet or a pub darts crew. Different nations have gotten the fitting thought; not only a cup however a Tremendous Cup. Now that’s silverware you will be happy with. Spain have even chucked in semi-finals, which could admittedly be a step too far in an English soccer calendar already bursting on the seams.

Anyway. Messi. He smacked the fella. Hilariously, it wanted VAR to really get Messi despatched off for his “conducta violenta,” which could additionally go some strategy to explaining why he’s by no means been despatched off for Barcelona earlier than.

Moreover, he might in concept now face a 12-match ban. That appears fairly mad for a primary offence, however I suppose when you’re going to get your self despatched off for the primary time in spite of everything these years you may as properly do it along with your cock (or certainly prick) all the way in which out, and truthful play. Messi has delivered greatness as soon as once more right here.

Any earlier?
Despatched off twice for Argentina. First on debut again in 2005, extra just lately in a bad-tempered Copa America conflict with Chile in 2019 when he was most likely a contact unlucky to see crimson after an animated disagreement with Gary Medel. The Chilean was additionally dismissed and seemed to be very a lot the instigator and important perpetrator of the purses.

Mitigation?
A enjoyable a part of Messi getting his first crimson card for Barcelona in spite of everything these years is that there are layers and layers of subtext for individuals to get all beard-strokingly obsessed about. Does this present his frustration at not with the ability to go away Barca final summer season? Is that this proof that he stays decided to depart? May Barca’s monetary state of affairs have prompted this uncharacteristic meltdown? Or covid indirectly possibly? It might be any of these issues. Equally, he might need simply been a bit pissed off about Barcelona twice pissing away a lead after which falling behind with a trophy on the road. It’d simply have been that.

So what occurs subsequent?
At the very least a four-game ban and a marked improve within the already heavy, heavy circulation of Messi switch hearsay tales.

Mourinho Nook
Has labored his magic on Tanguy Ndombele and successfully turned a unique and ridiculous footballer into a Mourinho one. Fortunately, Ndombele is so ridiculous that at the same time as a hard-running Mourinho midfielder he stays a nonsense. No escaping the truth that Ndombele is now getting extra out of his outrageous skillset, although, and we’re going to need to acknowledge that Jose will get some credit score for that. Fortunately, that is Mourinho we’re speaking about, so he’s nonetheless managing to be a prick about it, turning each single one of many now nice many phrases of reward he sends Ndombele’s means into increasingly transparent digs at Dele Alli.

Dishonourable Mentions
Each single considered one of us who did not predict that a goalless draw would secretly go well with each side at Anfield and that, given the historical past each historic and up to date between the 2 it was at all times the likeliest final result. Fortunately, it additionally had individuals appearing pricks at each ends of the size by insisting it was both an totally dreadful sport of soccer or a captivating chess match of a title tussle when it was clearly a bit cagey and crap within the first half earlier than selecting up in a wholly truthful to middling second half. Typically issues are simply… okay. Which is okay.

Prick of the Week Corridor of Fame
No. 17: Steve Bruce and Mike Ashley
No. 16: Covid rule-breakers
No. 15: Leeds Twitter
No. 14: Mikel Arteta
No. 13: Danny Drinkwater
No. 12: Anti-Marxist Millwall
No. 11: Head injuries
No. 10: Liverpool
No. 9: Ademola Lookman
No. 8: Roy Keane
No. 7: Monday 5.30pm PPV
No. 6: Pickford, Richarlison et al
No. 5: The Big Six
No.4: Deadline Day
No. 3: David Elleray
No. 2: Frank Lampard
No. 1: Jose Mourinho

Dave Tickner