Lionel Messi’s photo with Ron DeSantis receives backlash as netizens call it ‘shameful’

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA: A photo of Lionel Messi has sparked online backlash after he was seen posing with Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis and the football legend reportedly met at the Inter Miami facility, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The 45-year-old Republican politician, who is known for his controversial bills and policies, reportedly visited the facility on Thursday, August 8, to allocate $8 million from the Governor’s Job Growth Grant Fund to Miami-Dade County for constructing roads and other architecture around its upcoming stadium.

Ron DeSantis defends infrastructure funding

Ron DeSantis said, “As much as I love sports, we just don’t believe that we give money to build sports stadiums, we’ve never done that with our state money,” as reported by the Miami Herald.

“Local governments sometimes make those decisions, but from the state perspective, it’s not anything we’ve ever done and not anything we are going to do. But, when these projects are being done..people are going to want to go, and are they going to be able to get there, will it cause more traffic?” he stated.

DeSantis further mentioned, “And that’s particularly true in South Florida because anything can happen, and all of a sudden you have a backup and it’s very difficult…our role as that state government is not to give money to a team, but to create an environment where everyone can be successful.”

“We will be creating a nice artery so people will be able to get where they need to go,” DeSantis added.

Netizens call Messi and DeSantis’ photo ‘a horrible post’

Meanwhile, people have slammed Messi and DeSantis’ picture.

An X user tweeted, “Keep futbol clean of politicians, especially our GOAT.” [sic]

Another user wrote, “What a horrible post, keep Fútbol clean of politics. Shameful.” [sic]

“Don’t make our 🐐 a political prop,” a user shared.

Another user remarked, “Hell no.”

“Unfollowed,” one user stated.

“embarrassing lol,” another user added.

A comment read, “When the managing owners are to grifters — this is not a surprise.”

Another comment read, “DiSaster using those Federal Funds to get a photo op with the 🐐… only in America!!!”

“No. No. No. No. don’t have Messi posing with that horror of a human being. No,” a tweet said.

One more tweet added, “Taking a picture with a politician doesn’t mean Messi agrees with anything that said politician stands for. If you know the 🐐 you know he’ll take a picture with just about anyone because he’s a man of the people.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.