Days after threatening MLS opponent about Argentina call up, Lionel Messi spotted shoving Venezuela star in behind-the-scenes clash

Lionel Messi was recently spotted pushing a Venezuela player after Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against them. This comes just days after he was accused of threatening compatriot Pedro de la Vega's place in the national side.

Argentina beat Venezuela 3-0 at the Estadio Monumental on Thursday, September 4. It marked Lionel Messi's final competitive appearance in his home country. It was an emotional night for him, and it appeared to go over the edge at one point.

After the match, videos emerged of the forward shoving Venezuela midfielder Tomas Rincon in the tunnel. Players from both sides, the fourth official, and the assistant referee intervened immediately to separate the two players. They then headed back to their dressing rooms.

This comes just days after Alan Gordon accused Lionel Messi of blackballing Seattle Sounders star Pedro de la Vega. Seattle Sounders beat the Herons 3-0 in the Leagues Cup final on August 31. After the game, former MLS player Alan Gordon said:

“Messi told him - remember when they got into a little scuffle during the game. Messi told him to his face ‘You will never play for the national team as long as I am involved’. He basically blackballed him on the field. This happened. That is disgusting to me.”

De La Vega, 24, has earned four senior caps for Argentina so far, with all of them coming in 2021.

Pedro de la Vega opens up on Lionel Messi's threats about his place in Argentina national team

Pedro de la Vega also spoke about his clash with Lionel Messi in the Leagues Cup final against Inter Miami. He downplayed the incident and claimed that these things are part of the game. He also hailed Messi and Rodrigo de Paul as his idols.

He said in his post-match interview (via MLS Espanol):

“Messi and De Paul? They are the greatest. They are world champions, and they are my idols.”

“The clash was just part of the game. I tried to stay focused and not take it personally. Facing them as an Argentine carries a different kind of pressure," he added.

De la Vega joined the Seattle Sounders from Argentine side Lanus in January 2024. He has since made 57 appearances for them, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists.

Lionel Messi, meanwhile, will not be featuring for Argentina in their next game against Ecuador away on Tuesday, September 9. They have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

About the author

Aditya has been working as a European football journalist and editor for Sportskeeda for close to 4 years. He boasts a total experience of over 7 years, and always aims to inculcate proper context in his articles, making the most of his prior stints in writing and marketing across a number of different industries over the years. He has also played football at college level for 2 years.

A B.Tech. graduate, Aditya's journey as an ardent football fan began after watching the elegant maestro Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the final. He has been a fan of Tottenham Hotspur's front foot and creative football since 2008 and connect's with the club's underdog status.

Aditya, who is a Sportskeeda 'Long-form Editor of the Month' award winner, is a big admirer of Luka Modric's elegant and hard-working style of play. His favorite manager is Carlo Ancelotti because the Italian allows his players enough freedom in an age where micromanagement is the established norm.

Aditya feels Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala could replicate the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry due to their incredible collective potential. In his free time, he likes to read classical fiction, travel to places, and explore a variety of foods.

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Edited by Aditya Singh