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Fulham star Raúl Jimenez has risked the wrath of Mexico, by siding with Lionel Messi in the debate about the rivalry with Argentina.

Direct TV cover comments from the Fulham striker today, in which he insists that Messi was right in what he said a month ago.

Messi commented on the ongoing rivalry between Mexico and Argentina, admitting he was confused where it had come from as there is hardly a long-established resentment between the two nations.

Indeed, he almost played it down, suggesting that Mexico had always created the rivalry given there is “no real comparison between Argentina and Mexico”.

That is certainly a statement based on fact, with Messi’s 20 years in the Argentine national team seeing him go unbeaten against Mexico in six meetings. They’ve won five of those games, with the forward often shining in them.

That meant his comments naturally caused a little bit of anger in Mexico, where he’s already something of a disliked figure given his successful history against the nation.

Jimenez, though, has put his neck on the line by siding with the superstar and admitting he can see where he’s coming from.

“Yes, there is a rivalry with the Argentine national team, but it’s more between the Mexicans and the Argentines. They’ve beaten Mexico most of the time,” the Fulham star said.

“They have a longer history in football. They’ve always gone further in important tournaments, as they won the last World Cup.

“I think Messi is right to a certain extent. I don’t know where the rivalry came from. It’s not to disparage Mexico or anything like that, because I’m obviously Mexican and I want to be at the top. He’s right.”