Former Major League Soccer, MLS star Alan Gordon has criticised Lionel Messi for allegedly threatening his compatriot, Pedro de la Vega.
Messi, who captains Inter Miami, is said to have blackballed De la Vega, declaring he would never play for the national team.
Gordon claimed the incident occurred during the Leagues Cup final between Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
The Sounders defeated Inter 3–0, with tensions spilling over after the final whistle.
A heated exchange followed at full time as players and staff from both sides confronted one another.
Argentine midfielder De la Vega, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player, clashed during the match with Messi and one of the 38-year-old’s closest allies in the Argentina squad, Rodrigo de Paul.
De la Vega has yet to make his debut for Argentina, and Gordon alleged that Messi, as national team captain, threatened to blacklist the 24-year-old from international duty.
He told the Major League Journeymen podcast that Messi’s behaviour disgusts him.
“Messi told him, remember when they got into a little scuffle during the game, Messi told him to his face ‘You will never play for the national team as long as I am involved’.
“He basically blackballed him on the field. This happened. That is disgusting to me.”
Argentina continue their quest for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup with upcoming fixtures against Venezuela and Ecuador.