Cappa slams Messi: ‘He appeared with a notorious criminal’ | OneFootball

The recent visit of Inter Miami to the White House sparked a heated controversy that goes beyond sports. Ángel Cappa, former coach of River and Racing, did not hide his disappointment after seeing Lionel Messi alongside the President of the United States, Donald Trump. For the experienced manager, seeing the Argentine captain in that context was an unexpected blow, which he described as a “slap in the midst of sentimental stupidity” for those who enjoy his football, questioning whether the star was fully aware of the political weight of the meeting.

Cappa was blunt in his analysis of the American president, whom he linked to warlike policies that, in his view, endanger humanity. The coach regretted that an idol of Messi’s magnitude appeared alongside figures he considers responsible for criminal actions in contemporary history. While acknowledging everyone’s right to think as they wish, he emphasized the contradiction of an athlete who emerged from humble backgrounds ending up validating, through a photograph, the most questioned power elites.

In his reflection, the former Real Madrid assistant also paused to consider how the political system uses the popular acceptance of winners for its own benefit. According to Cappa, rulers seek to capture some of that idolatry by being photographed with figures beloved by the people. He also pointed out a recurring social phenomenon: how many footballers, upon reaching a comfortable economic position, adopt the mindset of the ruling classes, forgetting their humble origins and not realizing that money does not always guarantee true acceptance in those status circles.

Despite the rigor of his ideological stance, the former Huracán manager did not hold back on praise for the sporting side of the Rosario native. He placed him in the pantheon of history alongside legends like Di Stéfano, Pelé, Cruyff, and Maradona, defining him as a genius and inventor of wonders who has spread joy across the globe for years. However, he concluded his analysis with an expression of sadness over what he considers a self-serving approach by political power that the athlete did not know how—or was unable—to avoid.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.