Lionel Messi was labelled “a baby” after his apparent attempt to get Marc Cucurella sent off in the World Cup final.
Lee Dixon, an ITV commentator, reacted in disgust at Messi's attempt to try even up the teams at 10 players apiece. "The game has gone if you're getting bookings and red cards for that, to get somebody sent off," Dixon said. "You shouldn’t be such a baby to try and get someone sent off for that, it’s ridiculous."
Messi's actions came during a tense final in New York, where players surrounded the Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic in the immediate aftermath of Enzo Fernandez's red card for a second yellow card.
The World Cup rules state that players can be sent off for communicating with opposition while hiding their mouth, as was the case for Paraguay's Miguel Almiron.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi protests with Marc Cucurella in the World Cup final (BBC Sport)
Fernandez's brainless foul on Pau Cubarsi sealed his side's fate, with Argentina failing to muster a shot across 90 minutes. Only Emiliano Martinez's heroics kept Spain at bay, with the goalkeeper preventing teenager Lamine Yamal from scoring a match-winning free-kick.
The reigning champions lost Enzo Fernandez to a brainless second yellow card just before extra time, with Lionel Scaloni's lacklustre side continuing to stumble against Luis de la Fuente's classy, ball-playing outfit.
In the end, super sub Ferran Torres fired Spain to their second men's World Cup triumph as what looks to be Messi's last dance ended in 10-man Argentina falling to a meek 1-0 extra-time defeat.
Spain kept knocking at the door and substitute Torres eventually slammed home at the start of the second period of extra time. Argentina were unable to eke out an equaliser having been a pale imitation of the team that broke England's hearts in Wednesday's semi-final.
Tempers frayed as the final whistle sparked Spanish celebrations and surely called time on 39-year-old star Messi's last World Cup match.
The game marked the end of Messi's illustrious World Cup career, with the Argentine legend failing to lift the trophy for the first time.
Source: Yahoo Sports
