Lionel Messi called a 'crybaby' by Arsenal legend after Inter Miami star 'went through hell'
Lionel Messi has been called a 'crybaby' by Arsenal icon Robert Pires
REUTERS
Lionel Messi has been dubbed a 'crybaby' by Robert Pires after Neymar said himself and the Argentine 'went through hell together'.
Both players were team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain last season, helping the club win the Ligue 1 title.
But the duo were much-maligned among supporters prior to their departures earlier this summer.
Neymar has moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, while Messi has dazzled for Inter Miami ever since his own transfer.
Neymar claims he and Lionel Messi 'went through hell' during their time at PSG together
PA
The pair were famously slammed by PSG fans after their Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich back in March.
And Neymar has now said they both 'went through hell' while strutting his stuff at the Parc des Princes.
"I was very happy for the year he (Messi) had, but also very sad, because he lived both sides of the coin," he said.
"He realised a dream with Argentina and won everything, but at PSG he lived through hell. We both did.
"Messi left (PSG) in a way that, in a football perspective, he did not deserve.
"Everything he is, everything he does, anyone who knows him, he's a guy who trains, fights, if he loses he's angry and was unfairly accused.
"It made me very happy that he won the World Cup. Messi deserved to ‘end’ his career like this."
Yet Arsenal legend Robert Pires has now slammed the pair, calling them 'cry-babies'.
"I call that being cry-babies," stated the Frenchman, while speaking on Canal+.
"Being a professional player means withstanding the pressure.
"Sometimes, when you play well, you're glad to receive praise. When you don't, that's part of the game."
He added: "When I joined Arsenal, I had to replace Marc Overmars and they said I was hopeless.
"I kept my mouth shut, kept working and it eventually paid off."
Messi was unable to score during Inter Miami's clash with Los Angeles FC on Monday morning.
But his side still ran out 3-1 winners courtesy of goals from Facundo Farias, Jordi Alba and Leonardo Campana.
Messi was watched by A-listers from all over the world in LA.
Prince Harry was there, with the 38-year-old previously attending Beyonce's Renaissance tour.
Actors such as Owen Wilson, Leonardo Di Caprio and Gerard Butler were there, as well as Spider-Man pair Toby Maguire and Tom Holland.
Music artists Tyga, Selena Gomez and Liam Gallagher were also spotted in the crowd.
Messi will next be in action when Inter Miami face off with Sporting KC on Sunday.
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Inter Miami have seen the best of Lionel Messi ever since his departure from PSG earlier this summer
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As for Neymar, he could finally make his Al-Hilal debut when they face off with Al-Riyadh on September 15.