Socceroos players mocked for post-game act with Lionel Messi

A handful of Australia players were criticised for “fanboying” over Lionel Messi after the Socceroos were knocked out of the World Cup.

Socceroos players, including Keanu Baccus and Craig Goodwin, posed for photos with Lionel Messi after the Australia-Argentina game. Pictures: Instagram

The Socceroos have been mocked for “fanboying” over Lionel Messi after being knocked out of the World Cup by Argentina.

Popular social media publisher SPORTbible posted vision of Australian players Keanu Baccus, Joel King and Marco Tilio asking Messi to pose for photos after the match.

They then appeared thrilled as they looked at the images on their mobile phones.

All the Australia players were fanboying over Lionel Messi after the match! 😂👏pic.twitter.com/7i7teRQZfq

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 4, 2022

All three players, as well as Australia’s goal scorer Craig Goodwin, posted pictures of themselves with Messi to their Instagram accounts in the wake of the Socceroos’ exit from the tournament.

“To be apart of something so special and to have learnt so much. To then meeting my idol growing up and the best player in the world. I’m so grateful and feel blessed,” Tilio wrote.

Marco Tilio described Messi as his idol. Picture: Instagram

Marco Tilio shows off his prized picture. Picture: Instagram

Of the four players, Goodwin is the only really established member of the Socceroos squad.

Baccus made his first international start in the 2-1 defeat against Argentina and King and Tilio didn’t play.

But that didn’t stop some fans taking aim at their post-game attitude.

“They should be suspended from the national team,” one wrote.

“I think a lot of people would be upset still at leaving the World Cup to worry about a selfie with Messi,” wrote another.

Craig Goodwin and Lionel Messi both scored in the match. Picture: Instagram

Keanu Baccus posted a photo with Messi and wrote: "The goat and Messi in the same photo." Picture: Instagram

But there were plenty of others ready to defend the players for recording a precious memory.

“It’s not every day you see a goat or play with him,” one wrote. “Those players one day will show these pictures to their grandchildren and tell them I played against the Goat.”

“Anyone in their situation would do exactly the same and you’re lying if you say otherwise!” wrote another.

“Arguably the greatest player to ever walk the planet and they’ve had the fortune to play on the same pitch with him at a World Cup. Literally nothing to see here,” added a third.

Keanu Baccus crashes into Lionel Messi. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

You could hardly fault the players’ intent on the pitch either.

Goodwin scored — and Baccus certainly made no attempt to get in Messi’s good books when he bowled him over in the early stages of the match.