Post by Patrick Skene

Don't poke the bear! Fascinating moment in the World Cup semi final when Jude Bellingham confronted Lionel Messi early in the game and said something to make him angry. Messi gave him the Tony Soprano nod and then ended up turning the game around with two brilliant assists to send England packing, helped by some odd defensive tactics by English Manager Thomas Tuchel. There are great players in sport who should be left alone and not fired up - Brian Lara, Michael Jordan and even 39 year old Lionel Messi all play better when challenged and angry. Bellingham should have listened to the legends of the game before trying to provoke Messi. Thierry Henry says don't even make Messi angry at training. Zidane used to warn his teammates not to get on his wrong side. When Spurs played at the Nou Camp, Pochettino specifically said "Don't make Messi angry." Even his El Clásico rival and Real Madrid star Marcelo learned by hard experience saying: "If you provoke Messi, he gets angry and it is more difficult to stop him" When interviewed after the match Messi said: “I’m not going to repeat what he said to me. It was filthy. But football is emotional, and what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. I’ll leave it there." You come for the King, you better not miss! #Messi #Goat #LockedIn #fafo Credit: DAZN

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