Source: REUTERS/Marco Bello
[Saba Sports News] The opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup has finally kicked off, with Miami International facing Al Ahly Cairo in the curtain-raiser. American social media personality Speed approached Lionel Messi during the player tunnel but was repeatedly ignored despite calling out to him. Later, Speed posted a video on social media with the caption “Messi ignored me…” However, this post drew mockery from Messi fans since Speed is well-known for being anti-Messi and a Messi detractor. Speed has always presented himself as a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and a critic of Messi, frequently posting videos making fun of him. Messi may be put off by such actions that appear to be publicity stunts, so even if he noticed Speed, he likely chose to ignore him to avoid fueling more attention-seeking behavior. This incident reflects the differences and conflicts between internet celebrity culture and traditional sports star culture. Internet celebrities rely on traffic and attention-grabbing tactics to survive, while traditional sports stars focus more on their professional achievements and sportsmanship. These two cultures have different values and approaches.