Thiago Silva blasts Lionel Messi after Argentina beat Brazil
The defender criticised Argentina's captain after his goal helped them beat the Selecao
Brazil captain Thiago Silva criticised Lionel Messi after Argentina beat his country 1-0 on Friday in a friendly in Saudi Arabia.
"He wanted to rule over the game," said Silva. "He kicked two people and the referee did nothing. I argued with the ref and he kept laughing. You have to put admiration to one side," said the defender.
"He always looks to force the referee to give them free-kicks in dangerous areas, he always acts in that way. We spoke with some players who play in Spain and the same thing happens, he looks to control the game and the referee's decisions.
"In the Champions League he doesn't have that advantage because the referees are tougher. You don't see him trying to rule so much. There are referees that, because of their admiration for him, start to weigh in on his side. That we didn't have Neymar on our side was a disadvantage."
Messi told Brazil coach Tite to shut it.
"It's hard to understand when we talk about respect on the pitch, and one of the most admired players in the world does that, you don't do that to an older person but being that it was a coach... as much as there is rivalry, respect has to come first," added Silva.
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