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via Reuters

via Reuters

Whether they rate Lionel Messi or not, soccer fans can be rather extreme at times. Over the years, there have been numerous incidents of violence from ultras who support their respective clubs and national sides. This is not just in Europe but also in South America. However, recently, although not an act of violence, Bolivian fans resorted to the darker arts of supporting their national side by trying to give their country the upper hand ahead of their clash with Argentina.

Bolivia has only qualified for the FIFA World Cup on three occasions in 1930, 1950, and 1994. That’s perhaps why Bolivian fans are eager to see their country at the FIFA World Cup, and subsequently tried to distract and disturb Argentina’s players ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifier against last year’s World Champions.

Bolivian fans burst fireworks outside the Argentina team hotel at an absurd time to disturb Lionel Messi and his teammates

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La Albiceleste, reached the promised land last year as their idol Lionel Messi captained them to lift the World Cup. But as they began their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, they encountered some tricky Bolivian fans. Last night, as per reports, fans of Bolivia burst fireworks outside the hotel where Messi and Argentina were staying.

According to this tweet on X, via TyC Sports, a video emerged of the fireworks going off.

This was arguably done in a bid to disturb the players and give Bolivia a better chance of getting some points against Argentina. Perhaps, the Bolivian fans reckoned that an interrupted sleep would result in the Argentina players dropping off in their performance in the game.

Also read: Lionel Messi Shares First Words Hours After Cristiano Ronaldo Ended Decade-Long ‘Rivalry’

However, Messi, the Argentine captain has picked up where he left off at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Messi on target against Ecuador in David Beckham style

The mercurial Argentina captain was at the heart of La Albiceleste‘s 1-0 win over Ecuador earlier in this international break. This was Argentina’s first game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and also Messi’s first game captaining Argentina since the World Cup in Qatar.

Messi swept home a perfectly executed free kick late in the game in the 78th minute. The free kick was immaculately struck and left the Ecuador keeper with no chance of saving it.

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Messi has scored two picture-perfect free-kicks in the last few months. The most reported one was, of course, his 94th-minute winner on his Inter Miami debut.

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Maybe Messi is being influenced by David Beckham, the owner of his new club Inter Miami. It’s no secret that Beckham was one of the greatest free-kick takers in the world during his playing days. To Messi’s credit, he has always been an astute free-kick taker and also equaled Becks’ record of the most direct free-kicks scored (65). For now, though, all eyes will be on Argentina’s game vs. Bolivia later today.

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