Canelo Alvarez has acknowledged his mistake.
The Mexican super middleweight champion has apologized for threatening Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi for allegedly disrespecting Mexico after Argentina’s 2-0 victory at the World Cup on Saturday in Qatar.
“In these last few days I got carried away by he passion and love I have for my country and I made some comments that were out of order,” Alvarez tweeted Wednesday.
Estos últimos días me dejé llevar por la pasión y el amor que siento por mi país e hice comentarios que estuvieron fuera de lugar por lo que quiero disculparme con Messi y la gente de Argentina. Todos los días aprendemos algo nuevo y esta vez me tocó a mí.
— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) November 30, 2022
“I want to apologize to Messi and to all the people of Argentina. Every day we learn something new and this time, it was my turn.”
Messi nudged a Mexican jersey with his foot during a celebration in his team’s locker room, which Alvarez took as an insult. He said in so many words that one of the greatest soccer players of all time should watch his back.
Alvarez evidently was enraged, tweeting at the time: “Did you guys see Messi cleaning the floor with our jersey and flag. He better pray to God that I don’t find him. Just like I respect Argentina, he has to respect Mexico. I’m not talking about the country as a whole, just about the bulls— that Messi did.”
Alvarez later responded to criticism of his comments, tweeting: “Whoever doesn’t defend his homeland,” he tweeted, “is an asshole … fanaticism is one thing, your identity is another. LONG LIVE MEXICO.”
A number of observers — including soccer players — said it’s typical to leave sweaty jerseys on the floor. And most agreed that Messi meant no disrespect.
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