Soccer Football – World Cup – South American Qualifiers – Brazil v Argentina – Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – November 21, 2023 Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Rodrygo clash before the delayed start of the match REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Acquire Licensing Rights

Nov 23 (Reuters) – Brazil striker Rodrygo said he had received racist messages on social media accounts following an argument with Argentina captain Lionel Messi before the teams’ World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Argentina in Rio de Janeiro, the five-times world champions’ third consecutive defeat, was marred by violence after clashes between police and visiting fans at the Maracana stadium caused the match to be delayed by half an hour.

Messi, who accused local police of brutality, was seen interacting with Brazil captain Marquinhos and exchanging heated words with Rodrygo who said he had received many messages with emojis of monkeys and bananas.

“Racists are always on duty. My social networks were invaded with insults and all sorts of nonsense,” Rodrygo wrote on Instagram on Thursday.

“If we don’t do what they want, if we don’t behave as they think we should, if we wear something that annoys them, if we don’t lower our heads when they attack us, if we occupy spaces they think are theirs alone, the racists will act out their criminal behaviour,” he added. “Bad luck for them. We won’t stop.”

Brazil forward Vinicius Jr., who missed the Argentina game due to injury, supported his team mate.

“We will not stop,” he wrote on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.