Having your favorite footballer close to you can spark a number of reactions, but the one this woman had when she ran into Lionel Messi at the airport was truly uncalled for.
On Sunday, Lionel Messi fulfilled some of his fans' desires by signing autographs and allowing fans to take pictures with him. One woman asked Messi to sign a jersey, but the Argentine ace refused. The woman was then caught on camera screaming "pecho frío" right in front of Messi.
Messi may have decided to ignore the woman's request for an autograph due to the fact that she was wearing a Rosario Central jersey, which is the rival of Messi's childhood team, Newell's Old Boys. Be that as it may, the woman's reaction was totally uncalled for.
Have a look at the exchange here:
¡Qué imágenes! Esta aficionada de @CARCoficial agrede a #Messi diciéndole "pecho frío" pic.twitter.com/5nkyX2K4Ym
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 29, 2018
The phrase "pecho frío" is Spanish for "cold-blooded", and is an insult used by South American football fans to aim digs at players which they feel don't give their best on the pitch.
This phrase has been the cause of much controversy in Argentina, because football fans there don't see Messi playing at his best with La Albiceleste as he does for Barcelona. While some think it's harsh to pin that label to one of the best footballers of all time, his lack of silverware with La Albiceleste hints that "La Pulga" is not as comfortable while playing with the Argentine National Team.
