A Russian man is divorcing his wife of 14 years after she criticised Lionel Messi's performance in the World Cup.

Arsen, 40, and Lyudmila, 37, bonded over their shared love of football when they met in a sports bar in Chelyabinsk, Russia, during the 2002 tournament.

They wed less than two years later despite the fact they were fans of rival Moscow football teams - and he backs Barcelona while she supports Real Madrid.

And it was Arsen's love for Argentine striker Messi and his wife's preference for his biggest rival Cristiano Ronaldo that ended their marriage last week, afi.ru reports.

A Russian man is divorcing his wife (pictured together) of 14 years after she criticised Lionel Messi's performance in the World Cup

He said that he and his wife regularly joke with one another about Messi and Ronaldo – but this World Cup provided 'the last straw.'

Arsen said Argentina's disappointing debut during the World Cup this year led to his wife mocking the player's performance.

He ignored her – but when he was celebrating Messi's goal against Nigeria, he snapped when his wife began mocking the star player again.

'From the very beginning of the World Cup, Lyudmila constantly mocked me and my beloved player, saying that he played poorly and couldn't even score an important penalty in the game with Iceland,' he told the newspaper.

It was Arsen's love for Argentine striker Lionel Messi (left) and his wife's preference for his biggest rival Cristiano Ronaldo (right) that ended their marriage last week

He said he was extremely worried for Argentina during the game against Nigeria.

'When she once again started speaking unkindly about Lionel and his performance, I got angry and, in turn, expressed everything I thought of her handsome Ronaldo, the Portugese national team, herself and all the other clubs Lyudmila is crazy about.

'Then I took all my things and left her for good.'

The following day, he filed for divorce.

Both Argentina and Portugal crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the round of 16 stage.