"This was planned.": Fans react as Lionel Messi completely ignores IShowSpeed

For someone who’s always in the limelight, IShowSpeed knows how to make a scene, whether it's fangirling over Cristiano Ronaldo or screaming into his mic mid-livestream. But this time, it wasn’t Speed stealing the spotlight. It was Lionel Messi, and more specifically, Messi not acknowledging Speed at all.

The internet-famous streamer recently found himself within a few feet of the GOAT, Lionel Messi, himself, and, to everyone’s surprise, the moment went completely unnoticed. Or rather, Speed went unnoticed. A now-viral clip of Messi walking right past a visibly starstruck Speed has sparked a flurry of fan reactions and, of course, memes.

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Lionel Messi ignores IShowSpeed: What really happened?

In a clip that quickly gained traction across X (formerly Twitter), fans watched as Lionel Messi strolled by without so much as a glance at IShowSpeed, who’s famous for idolizing Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s long-time football rival. The moment felt almost cinematic: Speed stood frozen, maybe out of nerves, maybe out of respect, or maybe just caught off-guard. Either way, he didn’t say a word, and Messi didn’t notice him.

Naturally, the internet exploded.

Some fans saw poetic justice in the encounter. Speed, known for going wild over Ronaldo, might’ve finally realized how it feels to be on the other side.

As one user quipped:

“Bro got taste of his own medicine.”

Ouch, the tables really turned.

Another couldn’t help but poke fun at Speed’s silence in the presence of greatness:

“Speed too scared to approach the GOAT.”

It seems the high-energy streamer finally found someone who could actually humble him without saying a single word.

Others were convinced the moment wasn’t accidental at all.

Implying Messi may have known exactly who he was walking past and chose peace over drama, one fan confidently claimed:

"This was planned."

Given Speed’s very public Ronaldo obsession, this theory gained some traction. Could Messi be subtly firing back without saying a thing? Still, not everyone believed it was that deep.

One user offered a grounded take:

“Hard to ignore someone when you don’t even see them.”

And honestly, that’s fair. Messi, calm as ever, didn’t flinch, didn’t hesitate. Fans believed it’s possible he was just on his way to something more important than Speed’s YouTube thumbnail.

That said, fans of Speed weren’t ready to admit defeat. They argued that Messi’s very presence next to Speed proved something bigger.

One fan speculated:

“This means, even the highest-paid athlete watches Speed.”

Well, it’s a reach, but we admire the confidence.

Then there were those who simply felt Speed missed a rare opportunity.

One user said:

“Speed didn’t even try to get his attention.”

Given his usual hyper energy, fans were expecting a jump, a scream, a backflip, anything. Instead, we got… silence. Which, in itself, might be the most shocking part of the whole clip.

For context, IShowSpeed (real name Darren Watkins Jr.) is a 20-year-old streamer and YouTuber known for his chaotic energy, bizarre antics, and love for Ronaldo. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is… well, Messi. After all, he’s a World Cup-winning football legend, currently playing for Inter Miami, and is considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

The interaction, or its lack thereof, between these two wildly different icons highlights just how unpredictable internet culture can be. A split-second clip with no dialogue and zero acknowledgment became a top-trending moment.

Whether Messi ignored IShowSpeed on purpose or just didn’t notice him, the internet had a field day. And if anything, it proves one thing: silence speaks volumes, especially when you're Lionel Messi.

As for IShowSpeed, well… maybe next time he’ll say something. Or maybe he’ll keep collecting viral moments one awkward stare at a time.