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Lionel Messi's farewell from the Argentine national team seemed like it would be an international event, until a drone show arrived that ruined the emotional moment but became a sensation on social media.
While the fans were saying goodbye to one of the players who made history in Argentina, the drone show promised to pay him an unprecedented tribute, but it ended up being a laughingstock because an image promoting Sancor Seguros appeared.
It all happened at the Monumental Stadium after the Argentina vs Benin match, when fans looked up at the sky to see the drone show dedicated to Messi. The first image that formed was the advertisement with the logo of the insurance company, which is a sponsor of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), led by Claudio Fabián ‘Chiqui’ Tapia.
In fact, the AFA was in charge of closing Messi's career with Argentina with a flourish, with drone and pyrotechnic shows, music, massive applause, cheers, as well as a light and music show.
After the awkward moment, social media was filled with memes and mocking videos aimed at the AFA and Sancor Seguros. Users also poked fun at Lionel for being captured looking happy as he waited for his drone tribute right before the advertisement appeared.
“Argentines waiting for some tribute to Messi in the drones, and it was just an ad for the sponsor,” “Messi’s face waiting for the surprise, the tribute to a 20-year career, and Chiqui Tapia nailing Sancor Seguros,” say some posts on X, while memes replace the insurer’s ad with messages of gratitude to Gianni Infantino for the help he allegedly gave Messi and the albiceleste team in the last two World Cups.
Likewise, other memes place ‘Chiqui’ Tapia's face instead of the ad or promote items like shampoo, fruits and vegetables, and even a used car.
Another awkward and viral moment was the formation of Messi's figure with drones kicking with his right leg, even though the player is left-footed: “They didn't have enough budget to have Messi kick with his left”.
Amid the mockery and criticism over the drone tribute, netizens compared the moment to an episode of The Simpsons where they talk about “the grand opening,” but it turns into “the opening of high prices,” where an angel figure is raised in the sky and promotes the opening of a shopping mall. “The Simpsons predicted Messi’s farewell,” internet users mocked in response to the comparison.
[Publicidad]