WHO would be Lionel Messi? Dropping the shoulder and skipping away from defenders with all the ease of someone - anyone, anyone at all - accidentally avoiding paying tax, the little Argentine’s dancing boots normally leave onlookers open-mouthed.
They had the same effect in Egypt this week except, this time, the open mouth in question was foaming with rage and spewing out bile after Messi’s most outrageous bit of cheek yet. The Barcelona ace had the audacity to donate a pair of his manky old boots to an Egyptian charity auction during a TV interview, before sitting back and expecting the plaudits to come his way.
After his performance for Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final defeat to Germany, Messi has some experience of offending an entire nation. But hanging about the halfway line looking bored for 120 minutes is nothing compared to the whirlwind he has reaped this week, after it escaped his notice that, in Egypt, shoes can be seen as a symbol of disrespect.
“Whose shoes do you want to sell, Messi? How much do you think it will get? You don’t know that the nail of a baby Egyptian is worth more than your shoes? Keep your shoes to yourself,” said, erm, Said Hasasin - an MP and television presenter - as an excited Cristiano Ronaldo pulled up a pew and ordered a large popcorn.
“Messi, we Egyptians are 90 million people who have pride, we have shoes. We don’t eat off the money of other peoples’ shoes. I would have understood if he donated his Barcelona uniform to the Egyptians, it’s accepted. But just the shoes? It’s humiliating to all Egyptians and I do not accept this humiliation. Egyptians may not find food, but they have pride.
“We Egyptians have never been humiliated before during our 7,000 years of civilisation,” added Hasasin, conveniently forgetting their sleep-inducing 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland at Italia ‘90.
Wait and see - next he’ll be sending a signed shirt and football to a young Afghan boy pictured wearing a blue and white striped plastic bag with ‘Messi’ on the back. The swine.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
“APOLOGIES for no post op selfie. I had surgery yesterday and all went well, delighted to have moved up two cup sizes.”
Jonathan Walters gets some injury news off his chest amid speculation the Republic of Ireland striker could miss Euro 2016 after undergoing a minor knee operation. The Stoke star insists he will be fit well before the Group E opener against Zlatan Brahimovic’s Sweden on June 13.
SHISH KE-BAD
GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR will not play for Aston Villa against Chelsea on Saturday after following in the well worn footsteps of so many other footballers by being pictured playing the pipes of Shish while on holiday in Doobai.
With one goal so far this season, he will be missed.
