USWNT icon Carli Lloyd hits back at social media abusers after she compared Christian Pulisic to Lionel Messi live on FOX Sports
US Women’s National Team legend and Fox Soccer pundit Carli Lloyd has walked back her bizarre comments comparing USMNT star Christian Pulisic to Lionel Messi.
Just a few days ago, the World Cup winner discussed Messi’s impact live on air ahead of Argentina’s 2-0 win over Canada in the Copa America opener.
‘There is no one like Messi and I don’t think there will be anyone like Messi. [He’s] a generational talent like Maradona and Messi has just had that crown,” Lloyd said before adding: “But there are other players – Jude Bellingham, you know, Pulisic is coming, but I still don’t think there’s anyone like Messi.”
Fans went crazy at the idea that Lloyd would even think of comparing one of the greatest players ever to the American superstar.
After Lloyd blocked Twitter, she posted a message of her own hitting back at those who criticized her and retracting/clarifying her comments.
After comparing Christian Pulisic to Lionel Messi, USWNT legend Carli Lloyd returned
Lloyd said there would “never be another Pele, Maradona or Messi” but said she was trying to convey that other players like Pulisic could still shine brightly for their national teams
“Y’all need to kick back and relax,” Lloyd tweeted. ‘Messi has and will always remain in a class of his own. There will never be another Pele, Maradona or Messi.
‘There are other stars who can shine during these tournaments. Bellingham, Pulisic, Musiala, Vinicius Junior. I will not tolerate offensive language towards me [peace sign emoji].’
Lloyd has made many controversial statements in the past, especially about the U.S. women’s national team.
She once appeared on Kevin Hart’s show ‘Cold As Balls’ last year and said there should be room for more opinions in women’s sports like hers.
‘What’s nice about it [working at FOX] is that we get our own opinion,” Lloyd told Hart. ‘And that sometimes involves a lot of nonsense. But I’ve always been someone who really appreciated being authentic.
‘For women’s sport – and women’s football in general – we need to get to a place where we can criticize, where we can give more opinions.
She added, “I get so much criticism for speaking the truth and honesty and things I’ve experienced and seen that need to be embraced.”