World Cup 2022

Saudi win over Argentina at World Cup inspires social media gibe about Lionel Messi

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A photo of Argentina football star Lionel Messi surrounded by armed officers has circulated on social media in Africa and Asia with a claim that it’s “not the first time” he has been “locked up” by Saudi Arabia. While some users took the post at face value, it is actually a satirical reference to Argentina’s failure to beat Saudi Arabia in their last two encounters. The first took place a decade ago when the teams played to a goalless draw during an international friendly in Riyadh, where the picture of Messi being guarded by police on his arrival was taken. The second was Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup match in Qatar, when team captain Messi scored but was otherwise restricted - or “locked up” - by the opposition for the remainder of the match.

“Not the first time Saudi Arabia locked up Lionel Messi (sic),” reads the caption on one of the posts published on Facebook in Nigeria on November 24, 2022.

Screenshot showing the false post, taken on December 9, 2022

In the picture, Messi appears to flinch at a rifle pointing in his direction as security officers wearing red berets and khaki uniforms surround him.

Similar posts circulated in South Africa, Zambia, Asia and elsewhere.

They emerged online following Argentina’s shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening World Cup group match in Qatar on November 22, 2022.

Despite the loss, Argentina went on to qualify for the knockout stages and beat Croatia in the semi-finals on December 13, 2022.

Messi, however, was never taken into custody in Saudi Arabia.

Football banter

A reverse image search revealed the picture of Messi showing him under heavy police guard was taken in Saudi Arabia when he and his Argentinian teammates arrived in Riyadh for a friendly international match in November 2012. The photo was taken for AFP by Saudi media and archived here by Getty Images.

Embed from Getty Images

Another image taken from a different angle shows the full security cordon around Messi, who is arguably one of the finest talents to have played the game. He has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards, including consecutively from 2011 to 2013.

Yet his prodigious ability in front of goal was lacking in the friendly against Saudi Arabia, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

And despite being the first on the scoresheet against Saudi Arabia in Qatar last month, Messi was unable to help Argentina find a way back from a quickfire second-half blitz by the Saudis who went on to win 2-1, beating a team ranked 48 places higher than them in the FIFA world standings.

The taming of Messi in Qatar prompted the banter on social media after Argentina were effectively “locked up” and out of the game by the unfancied Saudis for the second time in a decade.

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