The 25-year-old, who additionally has a tattoo of Argentina legend Diego Maradona on her left thigh, mentioned she had acquired backlash on social media over the tattoo of Messi’s primary rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Please cease, I am not having a superb time. At what level did I say that I am anti-Messi?” she wrote on Instagram.
“I am not having a foul time due to you (followers) however for the atrocities which might be mentioned, with out mercy. Cannot you could have an idol or a participant you want?
“Messi is our nice captain within the nationwide staff however the truth that I say that my inspiration and my idol is CR7 (Ronaldo) doesn’t imply that I hate Messi.”
Rodriguez mentioned she did not thoughts getting a Ronaldo tattoo because the Portugal ahead, who has over 800 objectives in his profession, impressed her.
“What’s the drawback? We’re not all obliged to solely love the gamers of our nation,” she mentioned.
“Please perceive that that is soccer and everybody has appreciation, their preferences and highlighting one doesn’t imply burying the opposite. Sufficient, it tires me, it hurts me.”
Rodriguez got here on as a late substitute in Argentina’s 1-Zero loss to Italy of their Ladies’s World Cup group opener. On Friday, they are going to face South Africa.
(With inputs from Reuters)