When Evra defended Lionel Messi against rigging claims amid Van Gaal’s comments

Whether it was by coincidence or by design, one thing is clear - Louis Van Gaal's comments on Argentina winning the World Cup have generated a strong debate on social media.

The former coach of the Netherlands claimed that Lionel Messi leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last year was preconceived.

Van Gaal watched his side bow out to the South Americas for the second time in his World Cup history. In Qatar, a Wout Weghorst brace forced the game to penalties, where the Argentine eventually prevailed.

The 'rigging' claims came from the number of penalties Lionel Scaloni's men were handed in the Middle East country. Of the seven goals Messi scored in Qatar, five were penalties, as he finished behind Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race, as captured on FIFA's website.

What Evra said about Messi's World Cup win

As Van Gaal's comments continue to spark debate, an old video of Patrice Evra defending Messi has resurfaced online. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents Five Podcast four days after the World Cup final, the former Manchester United fullback argued that scoring penalties on such grand occasions was huge pressure in itself.

"Messi carried Argentina on the shoulders. People say Messi won the World Cup because he scored 5 penalties. People say it is easy to score a penalty. I say you go and score those penalties.

You have the whole world, all your countrymen watching you. When you are Messi and you miss that penalty, people will never forgive you. People have to respect that."
Evra had been asked to give his top three players of the tournament. The retired footballer turned pundit chose Mbappe, Messi and Emiliano Martinez.