Lionel Messi was left frustrated as Argentina fell to a shock defeat at the hands of Paraguay on Thursday night, with the Inter Miami star confronting the referee during the game.

The Argentine captain was visibly annoyed during the match, voicing his frustrations to referee Anderson Daronco.

Lionel Scaloni’s team struggled to hold onto their lead, leaving a poor impression behind. The frustration within the squad was palpable, particularly reflected in Lionel Messi’s demeanor after the final whistle.

The Argentine superstar was left fuming over Daronco’s officiating and displayed notable agitation toward the end of the first half. This irritation lingered throughout the second half, compounded by the team’s lackluster performance.

“You’re a coward, and I don’t like you!” – Messi reportedly told the referee and he also made a rather telling gesture, clearly threatening the referee with his finger.

During the game, Messi failed to register any decisive actions. His only attempt on goal came in the second half, a rather weak effort from just outside the area that ended up going out for a corner after a deflection. Argentina’s lone goal came from Lautaro Martínez, assisted by Enzo Fernández.

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Despite the defeat, Argentina’s position at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers standings remains unaffected, with Lionel Scaloni’s team still in first place.

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