USWNT icon Carli Lloyd hits back at social media abusers after she compared Christian Pulisic to Lionel Messi live on FOX Sports

United States women's national team legend and Fox Soccer pundit Carli Lloyd has backtracked her bizarre comments comparing USMNT star Christian Pulisic to Lionel Messi.

Just a few days ago, live on air, the World Cup winner was discussing Messi's impact before Argentina's 2-0 win over Canada in the opener of the Copa America.

'There's nobody like Messi and I don't think there will be anybody like Messi. [He's] a generational talent like Maradona and then Messi has just had that crown,' Lloyd said before adding, 'But there's other players - Jude Bellingham, you know, Pulisic's coming up, but I still think that there's nobody like Messi.'

Fans lost their minds at the idea that Lloyd would even think to compare one of the greatest to ever play the sport to the American superstar.

After Lloyd went on a Twitter blocking spree, she made a post of her own hitting back at those criticizing her and backtracking/clarifying her comments.

After comparing Christian Pulisic to Lionel Messi, USWNT legend Carli Lloyd backtracked

Lloyd said that there would 'never be another Pele, Maradona or Messi' but said she was trying to convey that other players like Pulisic could still be shining bright for their national teams

'You all need to relax and chill out,' Lloyd tweeted. 'Messi has and will always be in league of his own. There will never be another Pele, Maradona or Messi. 

'There are other stars that could shine during these tournaments. Bellingham, Pulisic, Musiala, Vinicius Junior. I won’t tolerate abusive language toward me so [peace sign emoji].'

Lloyd has made plenty of controversial statements in the past - especially about the US women's national team.

She once appeared on Kevin Hart's show 'Cold As Balls' last year and said that there should be room for more opinions in women's sports like hers. 

'What's great about [working at FOX] is we get our own opinions,' Lloyd told Hart. 'And that comes with a lot of flack sometimes. But I've always been someone that's truly valued being authentic.

'For women's sports - and women's soccer in general - we need to get to a place where we can critique, where we can offer more opinions.

She added: 'I get so much flack because I'm speaking truth and honesty and stuff that I've experienced and I've seen which should be embraced.'