Rodrygo’s father calls out Lionel Messi after heated confrontation ahead of Brazil vs Argentina

Rodrygo’s father has aimed a sarcastic comment at Lionel Messi after the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was involved in a heated conversation with his son.

But the game was marred by crowd trouble ahead of kick-off, with the fixture being delayed by half an hour after rival fans and police clashed inside the famous Maracana.

According to reports, the 22-year-old said: "You are acting like cowards, don't you want to play the game?"

Messi, who made his way over to Rodrygo with teammate Rodrigo De Paul, is said to have responded by saying: "We are the world champions, how are we cowards? Keep your mouth, watch your mouth."

In fact, two days later, Rodrygo's father has taken to Instagram to call out the Inter Miami forward. He wrote: “Is anyone surprised. The saint that doesn’t mess with anyone.”

Rodrygo said he received racist messages after the full-time whistle on Wednesday night.

"Racists are always on duty. My social networks were invaded with insults and all sorts of nonsense," he wrote on Instagram.

"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. Bad luck for them. We won't stop."