The Jerusalem Post newspaper discussed the escalating controversy surrounding the star Lionel Messi and the allegations of his “Zionism” in light of his participation in the ongoing World Cup, highlighting the voices critical of the player in Egypt and Algeria, which called for the encouragement of Argentina’s opponents for political considerations after matches characterized by tension.
The newspaper reviewed a history of activities and visits that linked Messi to Israel, including his participation in commemorating the bombing of the Jewish Center in Buenos Aires in 2011, and his visit to Israel with FC Barcelona in 2013, where he performed rituals at the Buraq Wall, in addition to advertising contracts with Israeli companies and positions that witnessed pressure from the Boycott Movement (BDS) to cancel friendly matches.
Despite this detailed review of these stations, the newspaper confirmed that Messi did not make any political statement declaring his adoption of Zionist thought, attributing the state of controversy to the interference of his fame with political calculations and the exploitation of his name in propaganda or promotional contexts.
