Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano addressed the ongoing tension between Mexican fans and the Argentine national team on Tuesday, acknowledging there’s still an “open wound” lingering from the last World Cup.

“We know that Mexican teams and fans are often hostile towards us, Argentines,” Mascherano told reporters. “After the World Cup, that wound hasn’t healed.”

Messi’s Gesture Sparks Debate

Last Saturday, Inter Miami edged out Club América in a friendly match decided by penalties after a 2-2 draw. During the game, Lionel Messi, who scored the equalizer to make it 1-1, made a gesture toward the Mexican crowd. Many interpreted it as a reference to Argentina’s “3-0” tally of World Cup titles compared to Mexico’s lack of championships.

The gesture reignited tensions that had flared during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina defeated Mexico 2-0 in the group stage, contributing to El Tri’s early elimination. The history between the two nations also includes Argentina knocking out Mexico in the Round of 16 in both the 2006 (Germany) and 2010 (South Africa) World Cups.

Mascherano Focuses on the Team

Mascherano, a longtime teammate of Messi with both Barcelona and Argentina, admitted he hasn’t discussed the controversial gesture with him. “We’ve got more important things to focus on,” the coach stated, making it clear his priority is the team’s performance.

The rivalry between Argentina and Mexico remains as heated as ever, with each new chapter only adding more fuel to the fire.