Lionel Messi’s visit to the White House has sparked debate internationally, dividing opinion between those who view his meeting with Donald Trump as a historic moment and those who observe it as a political statement amid the U.S. President’s recent military actions in Iran. The visit comes at a sensitive time, as the U.S. And Israel continue strikes in the region.
Journalist Lucas Fridman was among the first to publicly criticize the Argentine national team captain, posting a message on X. “Diego Armando Maradona,” he wrote, referencing the late football icon.
The post quickly went viral, prompting a response from Yanina Latorre, who questioned Fridman’s motives. “Did you move to kiss up to Messi’s house? Can you be so cowardly?” she asked, referencing an interview Messi gave to her and her team in Miami in 2023. Several users similarly resurfaced a photo of Fridman with Messi.
Fridman’s own colleagues also publicly distanced themselves from his criticism. Migue Granados, responding to Latorre’s comment, quipped, “That’s just how We see, Yani…”
Shortly after, Nati J, another member of the team, also voiced her disapproval of Messi on X. “For me, Messi just didn’t read the itinerary for today’s trip,” she posted. Latorre responded by reposting the comment with the simple addition of “Another…”
