Lionel Messi's 'generous' character ripped as Inter Miami & Argentina star is accused of 'showing his true colours' with controversial gesture to Mexico fans

While in pre-season action for his MLS employers, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi found himself lining up against Liga MX outfit Club America in Las Vegas. During that contest, he made a point of reminding rival supporters how many World Cup titles his country have claimed.

Messi held up three fingers to the crowd, before then pointing out that Mexico have zero. The evergreen South American forward was responding to taunts that had been aimed in his direction. The 37-year-old has, however, faced criticism for his actions.

Mexican streamer Mike 'La Máquina del Mal' is among those to have questioned Messi’s antagonistic antics, saying: “What are you doing, ridiculous? What are you doing? Now he was playing a match against America, which does not represent all of Mexico, and he goes and tells the fans that he has three World Cups and we have zero. What does that have to do with it? You are playing with Inter Miami and not with the Argentine national team or the Mexican national team or anything. Everything is out of place.”

He went on to say: “That little story of 'Messi is so good', 'Messi is so generous', 'he is the best person in the world', that his f*cking mother believes. On days like today he shows his true colours and it is clear that he has something personal against Mexico.”

Messi has grown accustomed to facing jeers from opposition supporters over the course of his remarkable career, and often turns a deaf ear to them. He is, however, a man that prides himself on winning at all costs and has made no apologies for his antics in Sin City.