Didier Drogba has taken to Twitter to clear up any suggestion he mocked Lionel Messi while heaping praise on Mohamed Salah.
The Chelsea legend was targeted by users on the social media site who accused him of poking fun at the Barcelona forward prior to him single-handedly securing Argentina's place at the 2018 World Cup with a hat-trick in their 3-1 win over Ecuador on Tuesday.
Drogba had liked a tweet which praised Liverpool forward Salah, after he scored a decisive penalty to ensure Egypt passage to Russia.
The tweet read: "Salah sends his country to the World Cup," however, it also said: "While Messi is doing key passes," seemingly suggesting the Barcelona man is over-rated.
The Argentina forward inadvertently hit back at the claim with his performance on Tuesday night, prompting Drogba to do the same.
The Chelsea hero asked: "What's that story with Messi? Please explain to me I'd love to know. What did I say? What did I do?!?! I don't get it."
And once it was explained to him - that he had obviously missed the dig in the initial tweet - he clarified: "I've got no time to criticize my friends or players."
Adding: "Leo is [fire]." Well, we certainly cannot argue there.