"No nicknames in the locker room": Lionel Messi

Often called 'discreet' and not appearing to have much personality in the Argentina national team, Messi came to the defense of a first-timer in Lionel Scaloni's squad.

In an interview with the English newspaper 'The Athletic', Alexis Mac Allister, Brighton midfielder, needed the help of the PSG player in his first call-up to the Argentina national team.

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Mac Allister said his teammates called him 'Colo', which means red in Spanish, because of the color of his hair and beard. Messi noticed that the athlete was uncomfortable and was not enjoying his first call-up to the Albiceleste. It was then that the star told his teammates to stop bothering him.

MacAllister thanked the Argentinean star for his gesture

"He doesn't like to be called Colo. So stop calling him that," Messi said, as told by Mac Allister himself. In the interview, the midfielder still tells how nervous he was before meeting one of the greatest names in soccer history.

"I was completely intimidated. I didn't even want to greet him, I was so nervous to meet one of the best players in the world. But it was amazing," said the son of Carlos Mac Allister, a former Boca Juniors player, and Alexis said his father played with Maradona on the Xeneize team.

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"It is something I will never forget. It's magical that my father played with Maradona and today I can train alongside Messi. We are very proud of that," Alexis added.

Despite having Messi's support, the Brighton midfielder has not yet had the pleasure of playing alongside the star. Recently called up to the national team, the athlete tested positive for COVID-19 and was dropped from the Argentine squad.