Ballon d'Or Showdown: Messi's revelation — Why he dribbled Lewandowski in World Cup anger at Qatar 2022
i

Messi and Lewandowski clash during Argentina vs in Qatar 2022 World Cup || Image credit: Imago

Ballon d'Or Showdown: Messi's revelation — Why he dribbled Lewandowski in World Cup anger at Qatar 2022

Faruq Ibrahim 22:52 - 01.12.2023

Lionel Messi narrates why he dribbled Robert Lewandowski in anger at the Qatar 2022 World Cup clash between Argentina and Poland.

In a candid interview, football superstar Lionel Messi opened up about his journey from scathing anger towards Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski to eventual reconciliation during the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Messi’s Argentina came up against Lewandowski’s Poland in the tournament's group stages, and the Inter Miami star revealed recently that he carried resentment against the Pole before and during the encounter.

What happened

Messi’s sparkling performance that led Argentina’s 2-0 win over the Central European nation, as he explained lately, was fueled partly by his anger against the captain of the opposing team.

The match pitted two of the best footballer’s in the world against each other, who were in direct competition for the 2021 Ballon d’Or crown. Messi’s pipped the Pole to the award, and his acceptance speech contained consolatory remarks towards the former Borussia Dortmund striker.

The aggrieved Lewandowski was unsatisfied by this show of sympathy and was quoted as having termed Messi’s speech "empty words." Messi was admittedly offended by what he understood Lewandowski to have said, and he expressed this displeasure through dribbling.

Messi dribbling past Lewandowski in Argentina vs Poland at Qatar 2022 || Image credit: Albiceleste Talk
Messi dribbling past Lewandowski in Argentina vs Poland at Qatar 2022 || Image credit: Albiceleste Talk
Lionel Messi walking on the pitch
Lionel Messi for Argentina|| Image Credit: Imago

What Messi said

Recalling the incident, Messi, according to Albiceleste Talk, stated, "Lewandowski's statements bothered me because when I won the Ballon d'Or, I said the thing I really felt, but for him to speak in this way bothered me."

He further admitted, "I ignored him during the game because it was him, and I was angry and thought he shouldn't have said what he said. I was very angry. If I was deliberately dribbling because it was him? Yes."

Lionel Messi ignoring Robert Lewandowski during Argentina vs Poland at Qatar 2022 || Image credit: Imago
Lionel Messi ignoring Robert Lewandowski during Argentina vs Poland at Qatar 2022 || Image credit: Imago

Messi and Lewandowski’s reconciliation

Following the match, Messi and Lewandowski had a conversation to clear the air, where they both acknowledged the misunderstanding. 

Messi explained, "After that, we met and talked and agreed that it was a misunderstanding. He was upset because what he said didn't match fully in internet. Then he went to Barcelona, and we talked about many things about the club, the city, and everything."

Meanwhile, Messi is auctioning his match jerseys from the triumphant FIFA 2022 run that saw the Albiceleste become world champions for the first time since 1986.

Related content