Lionel Messi admits trying to humiliate Robert Lewandowski and World Cup snub
Lionel Messi admits he deliberately tried to humiliate Robert Lewandowski at the World Cup in Qatar.
After beating Lewandowski to the 2021 Ballon d'Or, Messi made clear on stage that his rival deserved the award for the previous year, which was cancelled due to the pandemic. Lewandowski subsequently suggested that the Argentine's remarks weren't sincere - although the former Bayern Munich striker believes his comments were misinterpreted.
Shortly after, Messi didn't even include Lewandowski in his top three votes for The Best award in 2022, which the Pole won. Fast forward to the World Cup in Qatar last November and Poland faced Argentina in a tense final group game, with both nations yet to confirm their places in the knockout stage.
During the second half and with Argentina leading 2-0, Messi decided to go one-on-one with Lewandowski by dribbling towards the Barcelona star. Lewandowski eventually shrugged him off the ball but there was an awkward exchange a few minutes later when he put out his hand towards Messi, seemingly offering a truce.
The Argentina captain didn't oblige, though, and instead stared off into space. Now a full year after the match, Messi has lifted the lid on the reason behind their quarrel.
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"Lewandowski's statement in 2021 bothered me because when I won the Ballon d'Or I said what I really felt," the 36-year-old has now told ESPN. "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. Was I deliberately dribbling because it was him? Yes.
"After that we met and talked and agreed that it was a misunderstanding. He was upset because what he said didn't match what was reported.
"Then he went to Barcelona and we talked about many things about the club, the city and everything."
Messi's tactics certainly didn't go unnoticed, with Angel Di Maria being quoted by Marca as saying: "I realised it, you realised it, my grandmother realised it. These are things of his, that sometimes stay inside him. When you talk about him, he ends up throwing it to you in a note or he does it to you in a court."
With their feud now over and both enjoying their twilight years, Messi and Lewandowski are on relatively good terms. The pair spoke during an awards ceremony in May of amid claims that Messi was considering a return to Barcelona before he made his summer move to Inter Miami.
Get involved! Will Lionel Messi ever return to Barcelona? Join the debate in the comments section.
Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski spoke at the Laureus awards in May (Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images for Laureus)"I know what Messi means for Barcelona," Lewandowski later explained. "When you think of Barcelona you say Messi and when you think of Messi you say Barca.
"I also know what value Leo would bring to our team, not only on the field but also for the whole club.
"I've always liked playing with players who understand football. And Leo is top notch."
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