World Cup 2022 viral moments: Boxing champion Canelo Alvarez calls out Argentina star Lionel Messi
The world’s top boxer has called out Lionel Messi for a “bull***” act after Argentina’s World Cup victory over Mexico.
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A furious Canelo Alvarez has issued a warning to Lionel Messi that he “better pray to God that I don’t find him” after the Argentinian captain appeared to kick a Mexican football jersey while celebrating.
The world’s best boxer took the extraordinary step of calling out Messi on social media after video emerged of Argentina celebrating their win over Mexico in their changing rooms in Qatar.
“Did you guys see Messi cleaning the floor with our jersey and flag,” Alvarez Tweeted.
“He better pray to God that I don’t find him.
“Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico!
“I’m not talking about the country as a whole, just about the bulls —t that Messi did.”
In a video, Messi is seated and flicks his foot forward, making contact with a Mexican jersey that is laying in the floor.
In a another clip, he appears to be standing on or just in front of a Mexican flag, that is also on the floor.
Messi led Argentina to a 2-0 win over Mexico in a Group C pool match on Sunday, putting the Mexicans in last place and at long odds to qualify for the playoffs.
Canelo had some strong words for Messi after seeing his locker room celebration 👀
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) November 28, 2022
(via @canelo, nicolasotamendi30/IG) pic.twitter.com/emRRHK1nGO
To qualify, Mexico would need to defeat Saudi Arabia, and rely on Poland to beat Argentina – both games at on Thursday 6am (AEST) – to sneak into the final 16.
Proud Mexican Alvarez, the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, is not renowned for calling out rivals on social media, let alone athletes outside of the sport.
Messi is one of the most famous footballers on the planet, and Canelo’s direct swipe will only fuel the rivalry between Argentina and Mexico, with the respective nations’ fans brawling before and during Sunday’s match inside the Lucail Iconic Stadium in Qatar.
Canelo’s angry Tweets prompted a flood of memes across social media about what could transpire should he actually get his hands on Messi.
SHOCK REASON BEHIND KEEPER’S DISAPPEARING ACT
World Cup fans and even the BBC were left totally baffled as Morocco’s goalkeeper appeared to be substituted before kick-off — despite lining up for the national anthem.
Morocco named Yassine Bounou — aka Bono — in the starting XI to face Belgium this afternoon.
The No. 1 walked out of the tunnel with his teammates and lined up as the North African nation belted out their song.
He was then filmed shaking hands with the Belgium players as usual.
But then Munir Mohand Mohamedi El Kajoui was pictured in the official pre-match team photo.
There was a short delay as the Morocco team lined up and Belgium captain Eden Hazard waited for the coin toss because Munir was getting himself ready and some final words of encouragement from manager Walid Regragui.
And the replacement, who is wearing No12 at the World Cup, took his place between the sticks in time for kick-off — with no sign of Bounou.
Even the BBC commentators, though, didn’t realise for around 25 minutes of the match and referred to the usual first-choice stopper when it was actually Munir who made a save from Michy Batshuayi in the first half.
And it did not take long for fans to spot the discrepancy, with ‘Bono’ trending on social media.
The confusion regarding the last-minute switch was clarified at halftime.
BBC presenter Mark Chapman explained Bounou was feeling unwell and had a problem with his vision.
Morocco GK Yassine Bounou will be fit for Thursday despite being replaced moments before KO vs Belgium. 'He felt dizzy, and I spoke with coach about withdrawing him from the starting lineup. He is fine now, and he will play vs Canada,' said team doctor Abderrazak Hefti. #MOR
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) November 27, 2022
Chapman said: “Bounou was there as they sang the national anthem.
“He then complained to the coach about something wrong with his eyes.
“Look at how calm the coach is and goes over to El Kajoui with a smile.
“He joins for the photo and then played the first 45 minutes.”
Ironically, though, it was his opposite number Thibaut Courtois who came under fire after his error helped Morocco secure a shock 2-0 win.
‘NO ORGY PLEASE’: TEAM’S WORLD CUP BAN REVEALED
Spain coach Luis Enrique has made the hilarious claim that he has no issues with his players having sex the night before they play a match – but he draws the line at orgies.
Speaking to fans on live-streaming platform Twitch, Enrique was asked whether he had a view on players enjoying some more ‘personal’ moments the night before a match – or whether he would suggest the abstain from sex completely.
Over the years there have been theories – or, perhaps more accurately, superstitions – about whether athletes having sex before a match could negatively affect their performance, whether it be for focus or energy reasons.
That myth has been largely debunked, and Enrique said it would be “ridiculous” to place such a ban on his players.
“It’s ridiculous (to ban it). It’s something I consider totally normal,” Enrique said.
“If you’re at an orgy the night before a match then obviously that’s not ideal, but when I’m a club coach the players are at home the night before a game and it’s not something that worries me at all.
‘If it’s something they do then it’s because they need to and want to. But I repeat with common sense! Each one with their partner. It’s normal. When I was a player, if I was at home before a game with my wife, well we did what we had to do.”
Spain started the World Cup in utterly rampant form, crushing Costa Rica 7-0 to put themselves in the conversation of tournament favourites.
DUTCH COACH’S HEARTWARMING JOURNO HUG GOES VIRAL
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal fulfilled a journalist’s wish for a hug during a heartwarming press conference moment at the World Cup.
A Senegalese journalist, reportedly Papa Mahmoud Gueye, told the legendary coach at a [press conference: “I am a young journalist. I don’t have a question for you. I just want to tell you I am a big fan of you.”
van Gaal reportedly told the journalist: “I want to give you a big hug. Because I like that you say this and I mean it seriously. That does not happen often. “So we’ll give each other a big hug afterwards.”
And he did not disappoint, with the pair catching up and embracing at the end of the press conference.
FANS’ WILD THEORY ON ARGENTINA LOSS
World Cup fans are convinced Argentina deliberately lost to Saudi Arabia … for a very clever reason.
Lionel Scaloni’s side went into their Group C opener brimming with confidence on a 36-match unbeaten streak stretching back three years.
But one of the pre-tournament favourites were stunned as goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari after halftime completed the comeback following Lionel Messi’s early penalty.
The shock Saudi victory is one of the standout results in World Cup history and puts Argentina’s hopes of a third title in doubt.
However, some supporters on Twitter jokingly believe the defeat could be part of a masterplan from La Albiceleste.
That is because if Argentina top Group C and Brazil win Group G – as they are expected to – then the South American arch rivals would be in the same half of the knockout draw.
So should they keep progressing through the rounds, the two heavyweights would meet in the semi-finals at the Lusail Stadium on December 13.
But should Argentina finish second in their group behind one of Saudi Arabia, Mexico or Poland, they would go into the bottom half – likely with France and England – and potentially Brazil in the final.
And the conspiracy theorists were out in force on social media following the Copa America champions’ Saudi struggles.
One wrote: “Argentina will be okay – they going to win their next two games but if they finish second in that group they avoid Brazil honestly that’s what I want to see.”
Another said: “Argentina purposely finishing second so they’re on the easier side of the knockouts and don’t face Brazil in the semis …”
A third quipped: “4D chess here from Argentina trying to avoid Brazil in the semis.”
And a final user commented: “This is just setting us up for a Brazil-Argentina final now.”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE SUN
JAPAN FANS’ BEAUTIFUL WORLD CUP ACT GOES VIRAL
Qatar football fans were left gobsmacked on day one for the World Cup when a group of Japanese supporters started cleaning up garbage around the stadium – none of which belonged to them.
A heartwarming video of the visitors cleaning up the Al Bayt Stadium after Qatar’s opening defeat top Ecuador has gone viral.
The man filming – influencer Omar Al-Farooq – is heard asking "Why are you doing this?”
A man responds: “We are Japanese, and we do not leave rubbish behind us, and we respect the place.”
It’s not the first time Japan’s fans have made the heartwarming gesture. Similar vision was shared from Russia in 2018 even when their side had lost 3-2 knockout loss to Belgium.
SPECIAL STORY BEHIND GREALISH CELEBRATION
Giacomo Pisa – The Sun
Jack Grealish kept his promise by dedicating his goal in England’s 6-2 World Cup thrashing of Iran to a disabled schoolboy.
The Sun reports the Manchester City star came off the bench to score the sixth goal as the Three Lions got their campaign off to a flyer.
Grealish put the gloss on the victory late in what was England’s best ever start to a World Cup.
After tapping home from Callum Wilson’s unselfish cutback, Grealish wheeled away in celebration.
And the 27-year-old wiggled his arms in the air in dedication to 11-year-old fan Finlay.
Grealish met the City supporter, who suffers from cerebral palsy, shortly before jetting out to Qatar with England.
Finlay got in touch with Grealish, who’s sister Holly also suffers from cerebral palsy, with an emotional letter, before Grealish wrote his own letter back.
The Premier League then shared footage of them meeting in person, with the City star telling Finlay he would dedicate a celebration to him when he next scored.
Initially Finlay hilariously asked for Grealish to do the worm dance, but after the England star admitted he couldn’t, Finlay settled for a wiggle of the arms.
And Grealish did exactly that after bagging against Iran.
He took to Instagram after the game, writing “For you Finlay” with a love heart emoji.
And the youngster was delighted at the special tribute.
“I met young Finley about a month ago,” Grealish told the BBC after England’s win.
“Got on obviously really well with him — him obviously having cerebral palsy like my little sister as well. So he asked me to do a celebration and luckily for him it came at the World Cup.
“That’s what it’s all about. For me it’s just doing a celebration but for him, that will mean the world to him I’m sure, especially me doing it at the World Cup. So Finlay, that one’s for you.”
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Finlay said: “Oh my God, that’s the best thing ever. “He’s my best mate, I love you Grealish.”
ALEX SCOTT TAKES A STAND
With England captain Harry Kane among those banned from wearing a rainbow armband at the World Cup after FIFA threatened players with a ban, TV pundit and former England women’s star Alex Scott stepped up to make a statement.
Scott’s gesture was her bid to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.
“I don’t think it’s fair on the players to do this on the morning of the game, they have done incredible work, they knew the rules, it could be one of the biggest games they play, all the players should be thinking about is how to win the game,” she said.
Alex scott a women who has just come out and now is in a country where she she can be killed or imprisoned for being part of the community is wearing the one love armband, brave and powerful stuff from her pic.twitter.com/1f2RYvtpDg
— - A🦋 (@Ava_wfc) November 21, 2022
“It would have made a strong statement. Imagine if Harry came out wearing the armband.”
The captains of England, Wales, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark were all set to wear the armbands before FIFA’s 11th hour decision to threaten players with bans instead of fines.
The seven European federations released a joint statement after the FIFA edict, saying they would not wear them.
“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband,” the statement read.
“However we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play. We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented.”
England may not be wearing the #OneLove armband, but @AlexScott is right now on BBC. This is more than just LGBTQ+ rights, this is Human Rights ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆðŸ’™ pic.twitter.com/lSYZUaijqm
— Pride in Football ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆâš½ï¸ (@prideinfootball) November 21, 2022
Originally published as World Cup 2022 viral moments: Boxing champion Canelo Alvarez calls out Argentina star Lionel Messi
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