Maxi Lopez, a former Argentina striker with a stellar career including spells at Barcelona and AC Milan, has issued a stern warning to IShowSpeed, a streamer and Cristiano Ronaldo super fan. Lopez, who featured at U20 and U17 levels for Argentina, is taking no chances with Speed's antics, particularly his attempts to 'jinx' Lionel Messi and the national team.
In a viral statement, Lopez declared, 'If you put on the Argentina jersey again, we're gonna beat your a**, I'm telling you.' This comment, which quickly garnered close to 400,000 views in 12 hours, comes in the wake of Speed's controversial actions during Argentina's World Cup campaign.
Speed's attempt to 'curse' Argentina by wearing their jersey during their quarterfinal against Switzerland backfired. The streamer's jokes about 'jinxing' Messi and his teammates were met with backlash, and the team managed to win 3-1, albeit with extra time. Despite this, Speed confirmed he would wear an England jersey in support of the Three Lions, seemingly breaking the 'curse'.
Lopez's strong reaction is not surprising, given his own footballing background and the importance he places on the national team's success. He is taking a zero-tolerance approach to any perceived disrespect, especially from someone like Speed, who has a large online following.
This incident also comes amidst an ongoing FIFA investigation into racist abuse directed at Speed during Argentina's match against Cape Verde. FIFA has vowed to uphold the values of unity, diversity, and respect, and any actions that undermine these principles are not tolerated.
Lopez's warning serves as a reminder that the World Cup is a global event, and any attempts to manipulate its outcome or disrespect the players and fans are taken seriously. As the tournament progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these incidents unfold and whether they impact the players' performances and the overall atmosphere.
