Aleksandar Ceferin used heavy words to condemn the disrespectful celebration of the Argentina goalkeeper after the 2022 World Cup final.
“I do not understand why Emiliano Martinez mocked Kylian Mbappe. Lionel Messi should have reminded his teammates to show respect, because he was also Mbappe’s teammate for a whole year, ” Daily Mail quoted the UEFA Chairman’s statement, Ceferin.
“Martinez is like a puppet in the penalty shootout. It’s not sportsmanship. It’s crude actions and I don’t like it,” said Mr. Ceferin.
European Football Federation President – Ceferin criticizes Messi and Martinez for mocking Mbappe
In addition, the head of the European Football Federation also used the word “disgusting” to talk about Martinez’s celebration when receiving the title of Best Goalkeeper of the World Cup 2022.
“It’s a gesture that is not allowed, even if you win the World Cup. Be a great player, don’t make yourself primitive. A good goalkeeper is not necessarily a good person. “, said Mr. Ceferin.
As for Martinez, the goalkeeper born in 1992 once shared that after seeing Mbappe sit down on the field to express his disappointment in the final, he went to talk to the PSG star.
“I said he needs to get up and look to the future. Mbappe shouldn’t sit there but feel proud of what he’s done, it’s true. He scored four goals against me. It’s me who sits down on the court,” Dibu said.
Martinez and Messi are the best goalkeepers and players in the World Cup.
On February 12, Martinez once again confirmed that he did not mock Mbappe: “How can I mock Mbappe? He conceded a goal to me 4 times in a final, he mocked me. rather. I admire and respect him very much.”
Former French player: ‘Messi lacks attachment to PSG’
Former midfielder Jerome Rothen believes that Lionel Messi has never shown as much commitment to PSG as at Barca.
“Leo Messi represents everything I love in football. He has a lot of history and is probably the best player of all time. But we are very disappointed in Messi’s contribution over two seasons. tournament at PSG,” Rothen commented to France’s RMC Sport.
“I’m not talking about dedication on the pitch, but being on the side of the club in interviews, showing how happy he is to live in Paris, that he’s found his place. On the contrary, we always see the negɑtive .”
Messi is not happy at PSG
Messi built a name and spent most of his peak time at Barca – where he contributed 672 goals, 266 assists in 778 games, won 10 La Liga and four Champions Leagues. In 2021, due to financial problems, he was not extended by Barca, so he moved to PSG.
He initially received a lot of expectations to elevate the club to Paris. However, the relationship between the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and the fans here has deteriorated, especially after being eliminated by Bayern Munich in the 1/8 Champions League round.
On April 2, when PSG lost 0-1 to Lyon at home in the 29th round of Ligue 1, Messi was booed by home fans before, during and after the match. The Argentine striker responded by not greeting the fans but going straight into the tunnel.
Messi was booed by fans during PSG’s loss to Lyon in Ligue 1
This season, Messi has scored 18 goals and has 17 assists. However, the 35-year-old striker’s form in general is not as high as what has been shown at Barca, or in the journey to bring Argentina to the 2022 World Cup. Recently, there have been reports that he and Barca may be reunited, when the contract with PSG expires in June.