Lionel Messi endured a miserable night as Inter Miami were thrashed 4-1 by Nashville SC, but it was the Argentine’s reaction to a yellow card that really caught the attention of fans online.
The footy legend had already missed a penalty that could have leveled the score before becoming more and more frustrated with the officials. When Nashville scored its third goal, Messi protested that the play should have been stopped because of a foul on him in midfield.
The referee disagreed and showed Messi a yellow card for dissent.
The Argentinian talisman then sarcastically applauded the official.
That moment quickly spread across social media, with fans debating whether the Inter Miami captain had gone too far with his reaction. The criticism was particularly sharp from those who believe Messi has received favorable treatment from officials throughout his career.
One cheeky fan pulled no punches in his brutal assessment:
“Bro thinks he still playing in the World Cup.”
Another asked whether he should have received a second yellow for sarcastically applauding the referee.
“He deserves a second yellow and a red,” another commenter wrote.
The reaction was hardly limited to one side of the argument.
Fans Rip Lionel Messi After Referee Reaction
Some supporters questioned why Messi appeared to believe he could protest the decision so aggressively after already being booked.
“In football, sarcastically applauding the referee after receiving a yellow card is usually interpreted as a protest or mockery of the referee’s decision,” one fan wrote, arguing that the gesture could potentially warrant another booking.
Another commenter was even more blunt:
“Give him a red vile man.”
Others simply mocked the moment, with one fan writing, “Messi looking for Infantino in the suites,” while another posted, “Time to retire.”
The criticism came after what was already a remarkably difficult night for Inter Miami’s superstar.
He had the opportunity to level the match from the penalty spot in the first half but saw Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake save his attempt. It marked his third consecutive missed penalty, an unwanted first in his career.
Inter Miami eventually got back into the game when Telasco Segovia scored just before halftime, with Messi providing the assist. But Nashville took control after the break and scored three more times to complete a 4-1 victory.
Messi also struck both posts during stoppage time and had a late goal ruled out for offside. He finished the match without scoring despite the chances that came his way.
The result was Inter Miami’s third straight defeat, while Nashville delivered one of the most convincing performances against Messi’s team this MLS season.
For some fans, however, the scoreline almost became secondary once the footage of the Argentinian applauding the referee began circulating.
“Messi is a grub sore loser,” one commenter wrote.
Another said, “He keeps making a fool of himself.”
Some fans also pushed back against the criticism. One pointed out that he had recently lost his father and argued that people should show more empathy toward the Inter Miami captain.
“Are you [expletive] stupid? His dad died less than a week ago,” one supporter wrote. “You and all the haters are a disgrace to football.”
That context has made the reaction even more divided. his father, Jorge, died less than a week before the Nashville match, yet he still played.
The veteran star ultimately finished with an assist yet no goal, while SofaScore gave him a 6.2 rating for his performance, according to the original report.
Still, the image of the legendary footballer sarcastically applauding the referee became the lasting talking point.
And judging by the reactions online, plenty of fans were more than happy to remind one of soccer’s biggest stars that even the G.O.A.T. can have a very bad night.