LA Galaxy defender Eriq Zavaleta has responded to claims that Lionel Messi deliberately snubbed him after his side’s 1-1 draw with Inter Miami on Sunday.
Messi rescued a point for his team by scoring in the 92nd minute, but appeared far from pleased with the result at full time.
A video has emerged of Messi crossing paths with Zavaleta after the game, with one fan claiming that he turned back towards his opponent and said ‘No, I won’t give it to you’.
This has been interpreted by some as Messi refusing to give Zavaleta his shirt, but the LA Galaxy star has insisted this was not the case.
Taking to X on Tuesday, Zavaleta wrote: ‘I never spoke to him lol. He’s clearly mad at the refs but agendas….’
Lionel Messi appeared to snub Eriq Zavaleta after Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy, but the defender has denied that Messi refused to give him his shirt
Messi also went head-to-head with Edwin Cerrillo during the first half of the ill-tempered draw.
‼️ Leo Messi le niega el saludo y la camiseta al jugador Salvadoreño Erick Savaleta:
“No no te la doy”
(El dia que Messi reciba el 10% del odio y los insultos de Cristiano, explota y se retira)https://t.co/gFeMSVHv77 pic.twitter.com/CGQRnv3BSq
— Arielipillo (@arielipillo) February 27, 2024
Messi cut a frustrated figure after the final whistle, and he was also involved in another clash with an opposition player during the ill-tempered match that saw Marco Delgado sent off for LA Galaxy late on.
The Argentine icon went head-to-head with Edwin Cerrillo and exchanged words with the midfielder in the first half, leading to other players getting involved to separate the pair.
Cerrillo later accused Messi of trying to ‘get into my head’ but refused to disclose exactly what the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said to him.
‘At first, I was surprised that he [Messi] was talking to me, so I didn’t understand or remember the first thing he said,’ Cerrillo explained.
‘He was serious, and at that moment, I knew I needed to remain calm because it was early in the game.
‘He knows what he’s doing, and maybe he wanted to get into my head. Like with anyone, I wasn’t going to stay quiet.
‘What he said will stay with me; it’s something I’ll always remember, and I’ll keep it to myself.’
Inter Miami are currently top of the Eastern Conference after taking four points from their opening two games, and Messi is up and running for the season, but they are the only side to have played more than one match.
They will return to action on Saturday when they host Orlando City.
