After Argentina’s first game following their World Cup victory, Lionel Messi sang a song critical of France, endangering his image at Paris Saint-Germain with the France they are dead lyrics now viral
Argentina players and supporters were heard chanting “France are dead” during their celebration on Thursday night, including Lionel Messi. It was their first game since winning the World Cup the previous year, and they were playing in front of their own supporters.
“France they are dead,” Lionel Messi and Argentina fans break into brutal chant, video goes viral
Lionel Messi & co singing last night: “A minute of silence for… France, they are dead.” pic.twitter.com/NvVtscmp1X
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 24, 2023
Argentinian squad gets grand welcome in their first match as world champions
Argentina’s World Cup homecoming was simply exceptional as the team led by Lionel Scaloni competed in their first game since the sport’s biggest victory in Qatar. At the renowned Estadio Monumental, home of River Plate, the same XI who defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final took on Panama. Lionel Messi scored a spectacular free-kick to extend his career total to 800 goals as Argentina defeated the United States 2-0 in the friendly. Nevertheless, the action before and after the game was more important.
Before the game began, Messi and his teammates were given spine-tingling welcomes, and some of the squad members cried during the playing of the national song. Then the partying got more intense following the game. Naturally, Messi received countless serenades from the 80,000+ spectators, and those in attendance will never forget the evening.
Why Argentina’s song about France can endanger Messi’s career at PSG
On Thursday night at the celebration inside Monumental, a song was performed that made fun of France, who were Argentina’s opponents in the 2022 World Cup final. But given the tone of the song, it is unlikely that Messi’s popularity in Paris will grow anytime soon. When club football resumes, Messi might face the loudest jeers of his career in Paris because during the song, Argentina were heard singing “A minute of silence for… France, they are dead.” Brazil, one of Argentina’s toughest rivals, was also included in the chant, proving that Argentinian players weren’t just focusing on France.
Such a song is unlikely to be warmly received by Messi’s PSG fans or the rest of his French-based teammates. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract expires this summer, and some PSG supporters heckled him on Sunday during their loss to Rennes.