Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi very rarely shows emotion as he expressed so much anger in Barca friendly with Roma on Wednesday.
It looks like Messi hasn’t forgotten defeats in international cup finals where he can’t hide his utter disgust in failing to carry Argentina to a championship (see: 2014 World Cup, 2015 Copa America).
Not only did the diminutive Argentine headbutt Roma’s Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa but he also gripped his left hand around the defender’s neck and pushed him away as an exclamation point to his seething protest.
Referee Javier Estrada Fernandez watched the altercation unfold right before him but chose to only punish them with yellow cards.
Twitter was abuzz with reaction to The Messi Headbutt Seen Around the World, most of it rationalising that Messi didn’t get sent off because he’s, well, Lionel Messi.
In a related story, Barcelona beat Roma 3-0 at the Camp Nou in the traditional Gamper Trophy preseason match.
Messi headbutts & choke-grabs Yanga-Mbiwa but only gets a yellow, cus he’s Messi. Yanga-Mbiwa also carded. #FCB #ASR pic.twitter.com/4JCig6UZ2V
— amadí tídíane thiam (@amadoit) August 5, 2015
