In an interview which he made for the Mexican public, but is available to everyone, Lionel Messi He was encouraged to play with the TV heroes of that country: the characters of El Chavo del 8.
The Argentine goalkeeper Nahuel “Patón” Guzmán and the local driver Gonzalo Iglesias They interviewed the star on their YouTube channel and invited him to play with them, but not soccer.
The ten of the Selection helped Guzmán make the «ideal eleven» of characters from El Chavo del 8, one of the most popular fiction programs in the history of Mexico.
How was El Chavo’s ideal 11, according to Messi?
The team was like this: Professor Jirafales as goalkeeper; Don Ramón, Mr. Barriga, Popis and Doña Florinda as defenders; Ñoño, El Chavo, El Chapulín colorado and La Bruja del 71 as midfielders; and Quico and Chilindrina, ahead. From DT, Dr. Chapatín.
Some positions on the field were chosen with clear reasons: Girafales in goal because of his physical build; Don Ramón as defender because – according to Guzmán – “he kicks the shit out of you”; Mr. Barriga also in the defense, because “he collects the rent”; Chavo as lanero, for being “of the eight”; and, for Messi, Chapulín must go «on the hook» because «it saves you.»
Let us remember that the Rosario star knew how to pay tribute to the show by dressing up as Quico at a party.
His conflict with the Mexican public post-Qatar
The podcast helped Ten to settle any doubts about disagreements between him and the Mexican people. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after beating the green team with his goal, Leo dropped a rival shirt on the locker room floor and almost stepped on it. Seeing this, the ten was the target of endless criticism.
Regarding the episode that aroused the anger of many Mexicans, Messi said: «That’s where the Mexicans’ anger with me begins a little, but nothing to do with it: it’s normal in any post-match locker room. Anyone who’s been inside knows what always happens.»
And he also used the occasion to talk about local football, the strongest in the region where he works with Inter Miami.
«I do watch a lot of Mexican soccer, especially since I arrived in the United States, because it is closer. In Europe the schedules are complicated, but here you consume it, like Mexico follows the MLS: we play together and that brings us closer,» Messi explained, and added: «Their stadiums full of 60-70 thousand are heavy; that is why the Mexicans win lately, although they alert the MLS.»
