Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha has reignited a feud with Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi, posting a mocking image on social media following Sunday's 1-1 Ligue 1 draw. The post, on Instagram, showed a photo of Lens forward Elye Wahi celebrating a panenka penalty against Marseille with his finger to his nose, a gesture aimed at Balerdi. Emegha captioned the image "Merci Elye" alongside heart emojis, a clear public dig at the Argentine centre-back.
According to reports, the tension stems from an on-field clash between Emegha and Balerdi during the match at the Stade de la Meinau. The incident appears to be a continuation of a simmering personal rivalry between the two players. This is not the first time the Strasbourg attacker has publicly criticised Balerdi's style of play. Following a previous 1-1 draw between the clubs in December, Emegha was quoted saying Balerdi was "a little one for me," adding, "As everyone saw, he only fought, talked… That's not football. Just play football."
The latest social media post underscores a notable lack of affection for Balerdi among several Ligue 1 forwards, with Emegha now openly aligning himself with Wahi, who also scored a cheeky penalty against Marseille. Balerdi, alongside fellow Argentines Paulo Gazzaniga and Leonardo Balerdi, had been involved in trying to psych out Wahi before his decisive spot-kick, making Emegha's public support for the Lens player a pointed retaliation. The defender, a key figure for an inconsistent Marseille side battling for European qualification, has developed a reputation for his aggressive, physical approach.
For Emegha, the 21-year-old Dutch-born striker who joined Strasbourg from Sturm Graz last summer, the outburst continues a pattern of outspoken behaviour. He has scored six goals in 27 league appearances this season, establishing himself as a regular starter under manager Patrick Vieira. The public nature of the spat is an unwanted distraction for Strasbourg, who are comfortably mid-table but will be keen to maintain focus for their final matches of the campaign.
The incident highlights the intense and often personal rivalries that define fixtures in France's top flight, particularly involving Marseille, one of the country's most passionately supported clubs. While such flashpoints are common, they rarely spill over so explicitly onto public platforms controlled by the players themselves. It remains to be seen if the French football authorities will take any note of Emegha's post, which could be construed as unsporting behaviour.
