Messi has been so politically correct throughout his career, meticulously avoiding any kind of political statement, that his acceptance as a global commodity has been natural.
The World Cup in Qatar was marked by controversy. From the controversial awarding of the emirate as host to the living conditions of thousands of migrant workers, to the threats to the players in case they joined some demonstration.
It was not the English who created soccer, as the dominant literature claims, it was the Guaranis. This is the thesis of the documentary short film Los Guaraníes inventaron el Fútbol (2014). According to historical accounts, they were already playing soccer in the 17th century in the Jesuit strongholds of San Ignacio Guazú.