Lionel Messi took aim at the weather and referee Wilton Sampaio after Argentina’s narrow 1-0 win over Peru in World Cup qualifying, with the Paris Saint-Germain superstar claiming that the Brazilian match official makes contentious decisions “on purpose”.
A solitary strike from Inter forward Lautaro Martinez was enough to earn the Albiceleste three more points on the road to Qatar 2022.
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi endured an off night as he struggled to make an impact, with the 34-year-old suggesting afterwards that testing conditions and those calling the shots conspired against him.
Messi posted on Instagram: "Difficult match, difficult to play. A lot of wind, they were playing deep, leaving little space for us.
"The referee always does this when he referees us, as if he does it on purpose. But well, three important points and we're close to our objective."
