Lionel Messi is revered around the world not only for his unthinkable and unimaginable exploits on the field, but also for his exemplary behavior off it.
However, if reports emanating from Spain are to be believed, Messi lost his cool after Barcelona's El Clasico draw against Real Madrid in the semifinal first leg.
Messi had a game to forget against Real and cut a frustrated figure for much of the 90 minutes, although he did setup Cesc Fabregas for the game's opening goal.
Xabi Alonso was unhappy with some of Messi's behavior on the field during the game, but the matter spilled out outside when the Argentine superstar allegedly confronted Real right-back Alvaro Arbeloa.
Messi went in search of Arbeloa at the Bernabeu and allegedly made a verbal assault at the Spanish international, which also included calling the defender "stupid," according to Marca, with the initial story broken by Punto Pelota.
According to a witness at the scene, Arbeloa's wife, who was with the player during the incident, then asked her husband, "What is his problem."
There were also reports of Messi allegedly having a go at Real assistant manager Aitor Karanka, calling him "Mourinho's puppet" among other things.
While there might be an element of truth to the reports, it is difficult to imagine a player of Messi's stature seeking out a player to make his feelings known in public.
While the 25-year-old did not have the best of games in a game of the El Clasico's magnitude, it still seems unlikely that the forward will take his frustrations out in a public manner on Real's players after the game has been done and dusted.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see how Messi reacts in the second leg at the Camp Nou; with a point or two to prove, Messi might just prove to be Real's bane in the deciding game.
