After a brief and unexpected duel between a great boxer and a football icon, Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez waved the white flag under pressure from some of the best attacking players in the world.
After Mexico’s defeat to Argentina in the World Cup group stage, a video of the winners’ celebrations went viral online. In it, Lionel Messi is seen touching Mexico’s head with his shoe – and that was enough for Canelo to threaten that he should ‘pray to God’ that the pair had never met.
The boxer was so wrong that his national team captain, Andrés Guardado, even appeared to defend the Argentinians.
“Unfortunately, maybe Canelo doesn’t understand what he’s going through in the dressing room, and that’s why I can understand the reaction of being offended when I see the Mexico shirt on the pitch and everyone else. what went viral.”
“In fact, that shirt was mine, I exchanged it with Leo and I threw the shirt on the ground for them to wash for me. In the dressing room, people understand that because we are footballers, we know what it is to live in the dressing room and we don’t take that more seriously.”
Now, after days of back and forth that included the likes of Sergio Aguero, Cesc Fabregas and an MMA star from Argentia, Álvarez has resigned.
“Over the past few days, I have been carried away by the passion and love I have for my country and have made comments that are out of place that make me want to apologize to Messi and the people of Argentina.”
“Every day we learn something new and this time it was my turn.”
Estos últimos dias me dejé llevar por la pasión y el amor que siento por mi país e hice comentarios que estuvieron fuera de lugar por lo que quiero disculparme con Messi y la gente de Argentina. Todos los dias aprendemos algo nuevo y esta vez me to have one eyelid.
– Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) November 30, 2022
It’s not often that we see top talent from Mexico back down, but it turns out going up against a squad of many players does the trick.
