MESSI has been accused of displaying his “true personality,” with a former PSG player stating the Argentina legend has been “caught out.”

The 36-year-old captained his country to World Cup triumph in December before leaving PSG to join David Beckham’s Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer this summer.

Lionel Messi has been accused of exposing his ‘real self’ since winning the World Cup.

Jerome Rothen has taken the Argentina great by surprise.

Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or an unprecedented eight times, turned off lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and a return to Barcelona to join America, where he has since won the League Cup.

Now, an ex-PSG star claims that the icon’s image in the eyes of followers has shifted from fan favorite to villain, and that he needs to demonstrate more humility.

Former French international Jerome Rothen, who retired in 2013, believes Messi has acted differently since his glory days at the Nou Camp and on the pitch with the rest of Argentina’s teammates since becoming world champions.

Messi and Rodrygo apparently clashed during Argentina’s midweek victory in Brazil, with the great accused by several media outlets of making a smug remark to his adversary.

“When it comes to their behavior, they are the first to attack others,” Rothen, 45, remarked. Starting with the team’s star, Leo Messi.

“Now that he is a world champion and has had a decent rest before the World Cup since joining PSG two years ago.

“He used to have the image of a sweet guy, but now he has changed because his true personality is coming out and he got caught.”

“Today, you can’t even touch him,” Rothen continued. Only when he takes a hit does he say to Rodrygo, ‘Hey, I’m a world champion,’ as he did last night.

“The team embodies the image of Argentines.” It’s like having Argentine nationality and feeling superior because of someone else. They may be more refined.”

Rothen then claimed that Messi did not deserve the Ballon d’Or and that it should have gone to Erling Haaland of Manchester City instead.

“It’s shameful!” he added. Of course, it’s heinous! Haaland, in my opinion, should have won. What variables lead us to assume that Messi is superior than the rest between August 2022 and June 2023?

“There is almost no criterion where he is number one.” Even though he won the World Cup, he trails Haaland in terms of trophies.

“Haaland won everything with Manchester City and of course, you can’t compare based on the World Cup because Haaland is Norwegian.”