Lionel Messi entailed in Charlie Hebdo’s latest cartoon regarding the Taliban!

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Bishal Roy
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Lionel Messi, the newest signing of Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint Germain seems to have been unintentionally involved in a political turmoil. The six-time Ballon D’or winner, Lionel Messi recently joined the French giants, PSG and they are heavily linked with Qatar, where the owners are based in.

Lionel Messi reference in provocative cartoons

Lionel Messi entailed in Charlie Hebdo's latest cartoon regarding the Taliban! - THE SPORTS ROOM

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There has been chaos in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over as they recaptured after the US and their allies withdrew from the country. This has led to a complete bedlam in the country with the lives of thousands at risk.

Recently, a controversial French publication Charlie Hebdo has used its front cover to show oppressed women wearing burqas. But, what drew the attention of many was the association of former Barcelona ace Lionel Messi’s name in this matter.
On the back of the burqa-wearing women was written “Messi 30”, which is the kit number for Messi at PSG. It was also added that the Taliban are “worse than we think.” This illustration has certainly provoked many.

The headline accompanying the work can be translated from French as: “The Taliban, they are worse than we think”.

Observers speculated that the cartoon could be intended to link the Taliban and Qatar, where the owners of Messi’s new club, Paris Saint-Germain, are based.

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Qatar kept in contact with the Taliban during its previous rule between 1996 and 2001 rule. However, it never established diplomatic ties with the government. The Taliban were said to see Qatar as a neutral setting for talks at the time.

Commenting on the cover, the founder of a grassroots activist organization aiming to preserve America’s ‘Judeo-Christian values’ called the magazine’s design “a mirror to the west”.

“Taliban leaders have been arriving from Qatar to Afghanistan,” she claimed. “Qatar will host the next FIFA World Cup and has recently financed the signing of Messi by PSG. “Will the West protest or continue to bury their heads in the sand?”

One of the critics warned: “You are making the same mistake again and then you play the role of the victims of the terrorists” Last December, 14 men were convicted of their part in the attack and another on a Jewish supermarket.

The magazine had previously covered the story of Emmanuel Macron last year after the French leader defended its right to produce more cartoons of the prophet who founded Islam. Numerous high-profile athletes took objection to Macron’s response, including Russian former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is a devoted Muslim.

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