Guerra: Messi is a football god

Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Ataullah Guerra said he had no regrets about his bow to Argentina captain Lionel Messi and described the international friendly between the two nations, which the “Soca Warriors” lost 3-0, as “an amazing experience.”

“He is a football God,” Guerra told the TTFA Media. “This was an amazing experience for all of us; just to be on the same field with him was great (and) to see the way he controlled the ball and his team was something we will never forget.

“I think we all learned a lot from this game today.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Ataullah Guerra (centre) ignored the usual pre-match handshake routine to pay a special tribute to Argentina captain Lionel Messi. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Ataullah Guerra (centre) ignored the usual pre-match handshake routine to pay a special tribute to Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

Guerra’s greeting received global attention and sparked heated debates on the social media. But the former Mucurapo schoolboy insisted that he was only trying to show respect to the four-time World Player of the Year.

“I thought my greeting to him was a mark of respect also and he seemed to appreciate it,” said Guerra. “There was no problem with that.”

Messi, who had a hand in one of the Argentine goals but missed several scoring opportunities, described the Warriors as “not a bad team.”

“We finished strongly, Trinidad and Tobago were opponents who closed up at the back like some teams in the group will do (in Brazil),” said Messi. “I think the match was a good one. We scored the first goal late in the opening half but we were strong and the (Argentina) team looked good in many parts of the match.

“Trinidad and Tobago were not a bad team. They had some players who were strong and also fast. We are preparing for the World Cup and these kind of games are good for us.”

Photo: Argentina captain Lionel Messi (right) is tackled by Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland.  (Copyright AFP 2014/ Juan Mabromata)
Photo: Argentina captain Lionel Messi (right) is tackled by Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Khaleem Hyland.
(Copyright AFP 2014/ Juan Mabromata)

The Warriors leave Buenos Aires tonight for Brazil where they will face Iran in Sao Paulo on Sunday. While Argentina will play its final 2014 World Cup warm up match against Slovenia on Saturday.

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18 comments

  1. As I said none footballers talking ……..

  2. All you have done is show that you are incapable of having a meaningful discussion with those who don’t share you views Bor Bor. I would thank you to be civil in the future when commenting on a thread and make a contribution worth reading rather than insulting people you don’t know.

  3. Ah set r none footballers talking shit allyuh good wii

  4. “Hart said he thought their transition game was amazing.”

    The transition game….one of the big problems in TT football.

  5. Totally agree Tonyette Sharpe…as I said in another thread, Messi is a football great…to be on the same field with him alone is awesome. go guerra, you have nothing to be ashamed of.

  6. Young, naive. He can be forgiven. However, the lesson that should be learnt is, that is NOT the professional thing to do. Be a big man, carry yourself in a professional manner. After the game, when competition done , go and kiss de man feet for all I care.

  7. You have NOTHING for which to apologize Ataullah GUERRA! Only the coarse and classless will seek to sully and confound your NOBLE gesture of sheer ADMIRATION and brotherly bonding by adding race/colonialism and other “myopic” irrelevancies “to de mix”. You are a man of good TASTE and impeccable manners, a man, nigh extinct in Trinidad and Tobago—a RARE, priceless, precious GEM!! I BOW to YOU!!! Blessings as you build your career with gentille professionalism.

  8. Well said my brother. A lot of us who never played the game would not understand …. Respect bro

  9. …Guerra was in awe of Messi…all time great…tis is overblown…

  10. If Neymar can bow at a great player why can’t Guerra. Guerra u are one of the luckiest people alive, I bet u in 10 years time if u ask Messi do u remember Trinidad and Tobago he will say yes one of their players in particular A.Guerra..

  11. We need a striker plain talk.. No dis respect to anyone. But we need an out an out striker..

  12. Compete first, be a fan after.

  13. I was giving my dad running commentary through text. Every time I said we won a corner. I would write poor service. Before I could look I am writing Argentina just missed a sitter. We must get better from set pieces. Sometimes it’s hard to catch everything while coaching. If he watch this game again he will have a different assessment

  14. Hart said he thought their transition game was amazing.

  15. Listen ah kid you not. Every time we attack they countered and almost scored. Every time.

  16. loool!! he was being kind cause they was rusty lol…

  17. Hahaha. I won’t read too much in Messi being kind though.

  18. Messi said we played ok. Take that. Some clubs in Europe take not and sign some of we boys

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