Things have not gone well for Lionel Messi in recent weeks.

Not only were his Inter Miami side dumped out of the MLS playoffs in Round One, but the Argentina captain watched his side throw away an early lead to suffer a 2-1 loss to Paraguay on Thursday evening.

Argentina have now won just one of their last four games and the frustration seems to be getting to Messi. At half time against Paraguay he confronted referee Anderson Daronco, appearing to say: “You’re a coward, I don’t like you!”

It seems Messi was unhappy with Daronco’s decision not to give a second yellow card to Paraguay defender Omar Alderete. It was Alderete who nodded Paraguay ahead early in the second half and it could well be Messi who finds himself in hot water with officials.

Could Lionel Messi be suspended for referee outburst?

Strong language between players and officials is not a rarity in soccer but the nature of Messi’s outburst could still be punished. The 37-year-old waved a finger in the referee’s face and repeatedly argued against the decisions, continuing the tirade even as he trudged off the field.

FIFA’s handbook states that player may be subject to disciplinary measures if they are found to have used "offensive gestures, signs or language" on the playing field. Messi was fairly restrained compared to some but in calling Daronco a coward he is essentially questioning the referee’s decision-making.

Earlier this year New England Revolution head coach Caleb Porter was hit with a one-game suspension and $20,000 fine for calling an MLS referee a “coward” who had preceded over a “joke show”.

Porter’s outburst differs in that this wasn’t delivered in the heat of a game, but in a 10-minute rant during a post-match press conference. This premeditated nature is likely what landed him in trouble with officials, something that doesn’t apply to Messi.