An Argentina star has now been slammed and accused of being in the national team only because he is Lionel Messi's friend.
The Albiceleste were without the injured Messi for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia this month.
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The 2022 World Cup champions claimed a 3-0 win over the Chileans on Friday, 6 September, before losing 2-1 to Colombia on Tuesday, although they remain at the top of CONMEBOL's World Cup qualification standings after eight matches played.
Argentina's victory over Chile, however, seems to have left a sour taste in the mouth of a former international star from the country, Patricio Mardones.
The 62-year-old represented Chile 29 times during his playing career, and the ex-midfielder did not hold back when it comes to which Argentina player he dislikes the most, namely Rodrigo De Paul.
"There is a nasty player, Rodrigo De Paul," Mardones said during the Con Camiseta show on Touch TV.
"Watching the match between Argentina and Chile, I would tell him on the pitch, 'Wow, you're bad'.
"He is a limited player who works hard. He has very good teammates who make up for that limitation.
"I would have told him: 'You are bad and you play because you are a friend of Messi.'
"De Paul makes me feel that way, he's a very unpleasant guy."
Mardones' rant is said to also be in relation to an incident in which De Paul allegedly stomped on Chile's Víctor Davila, but the referee did not see it, nor was it reviewed by the VAR.
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Since making his Albiceleste debut in 2018, De Paul has registered 71 appearances for his country and won three major titles: the 2022 FIFA World Cup and two Copa America crowns.