Steve Nicol and Ale Moreno torch Brandon Vazquez for Lionel Messi autograph after loss to Inter Miami

The act of Brandon Vazquez requesting an autograph after losing on penalties in the US Open Cup semifinal against Inter Miami has enraged ESPN FC panelists Steve Nicol and Alejandro Moreno.

The USMNT striker put FC Cincinnati ahead 2-0 in the 53rd minute of Wednesday’s thriller before Messi’s side forced extra time to eventually win on penalties.

After the match, Vazquez approached Messi with a pen and asked to sign his shirt. The Argentinian agreed, sparking a current debate both online and in ESPN FC’s studios.

“It just disgusts me, to be honest,” Nicol said on Thursday. “I don’t have anything that’s allowed on TV.

“I’m absolutely disgusted that anyone would lose a Cup semi-final… and I have the guts to think it’s okay to go and get an autograph from someone from the opposition.

The USMNT striker approached Messi with a marker and asked for an autograph after the loss

“If I were the coach I would kick all of them, just my size 12, when they came back to the locker room. Every one of them embarrassed themselves and us by doing so. You can call it old school, you can call it whatever you want. But that’s disgusting.

“Absolute joke – and if I’m a fan, and I see the players I come to see win a game and act like nice guys after the game when they’ve just lost a cup semi-final… I would I’d rather say other words, but I’m not allowed to.’

Nicol’s colleague and former MLS player Alejandro Moreno wasn’t much kinder, suggesting, among other things, that Messi should be seen as a rival, rather than a hero.

“I don’t care if it’s Lionel Messi, I don’t care if it’s Maradona, I don’t care if it’s Pele, I don’t care if it’s Pele,” Moreno said. “He’s an adversary that keeps you from achieving your goals as an individual and as a team.

“And yet, and yet, where is the competitive pride? Where is the respect for your organization, for your club, for your teammate, for yourself?

“Where is the self-respect and sense of pride when you know you’ve just missed a chance to win a title for your club? Now people will say, “Well, this is after the game. So why does it matter?”

“It does matter…because if you have a marker in your hand, you’ve thought about it before the game. If indeed you are willing to queue for a few minutes after losing it because you thought about this before the game.

“And so you can’t tell me you’re giving the very best of yourself that’s available to you. To beat Inter Miami against Lionel Messi. If you’re worried about getting that guy’s autograph.

There were people on Elon Musk’s social media platform who sided with Vazquez’s decision

“You can’t beat the man if you keep treating him like a God, like a deity, like an untouchable. He’s good enough. Believe me. He doesn’t need your help.’

Despite the fiery views of the ex-pros, there are those on social media who believed Messi’s greatness overshadowed any talk of a lack of competitiveness.

“Anyone who really likes football would if they had the chance,” one user wrote.

“He could have that signed for a family member or close friend,” another supposed.

One thing is certain: it will not be the last time this happens after a less than desirable result against Messi and Miami.