Argentina’s Women’s National Team striker Yamila Rodriguez caused a stir at the FIFA Women’s World Cup after photos of her tattoo of Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo on her leg surfaced on social media.
As a result, the 25-year-old has received harsh criticism on social media, with the majority of Argentines accusing her of being “anti-Messi.”
Fans have long created a rivalry between Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, dating back to when both were at the peak of their careers.
Most Argentines believe that everyone in their country should rally behind Messi, their talisman at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, in his perceived rivalry with the Portuguese all-time scorer.
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This prompted Rodriguez to explain and defend her decision to get a tattoo of Ronaldo.
She insisted that she wasn’t obliged to only love players from Argentina and that she has her own preferences.
“We are not all obliged to only love the players of our country. Please understand that this is Football and each one has appreciation, their preferences and highlighting one does not mean burying the other. Enough, it tires, it hurts,” she wrote on Instagram
Rodriguez wrote on Instagram.
“I never said that I am anti-Messi”- Rodriguez
She also admitted that the negative backlash against her had affected her at the tournament.
“Please, enough, I’m not having a good time; at what point did I say I’m anti-messi”? she asked. “Stop saying things that I didn’t say because the truth is that I’m having a bad time in the middle of a World Cup representing the country. I don’t have a bad time for you, but for the atrocities that are said, without mercy, Can’t you have an idol or a player you like?”
Rodriguez added that having Ronaldo as an inspiration doesn’t translate into hating Messi
“I never said that I am anti-Messi; I never would be. Messi is our great captain of the National team, but the fact that I say that my idol and my inspiration is CR7 (Ronaldo) does not mean that I hate Messi. I like another player more, the one who inspired me,” she said.
Rodriguez came on as a Substitute in Monday’s 1-0 World Cup defeat to Italy.
