Thomas Müller, a World Cup champion with Germany, still remembers that moment as if the referee had whispered it in his ear.
It was at the 2010 World Cup, Germany were winning the match, and a ball that bounced off the ground ended up hitting his hand, which was tucked against his body. Nothing unusual, he says. But the yellow card came instantly.
The reason, according to Müller? Lionel Messi was standing right beside him. “I think the reason is simply that Messi was next to me”, the German admitted, still with the tone of someone who does not fully understand the decision.
And he went further: he says he noticed Messi looking at the referee, as if asking him for a favor for his team, which was losing at the time.
It is not the first time an Argentina opponent has hinted at special treatment for La Pulga, but it rarely comes from someone with Müller’s track record.