FIFA World Cup 2022: Lionel Messi refuses to reveal message to Robert Lewandowski after bust-up
Lionel Messi has refused to reveal the message he shared with Poland’s Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday as the two stars had an on-field altercation during the match between Argentina and Poland.
Messi and Lewandowski were involved in a heated moment on the field when the Polish striker tackled the Argentinian maestro. The Poland skipper offered a handshake and apology to Messi but the 35-year-old didn’t accept it and had a few choice words for the Barcelona striker.
The two would then shake hands at full-time, seemingly burying the hatchet and moving on as both Argentina and Poland secured their berth in the Round Of 16 stages at the World Cup.
When asked about the interaction with Lewandowski, as quoted by The Mirror, Messi refused to reveal the message and said that nothing happened between the two. He went on to say that everything that happens on the pitch remains there and people wouldn’t hear about their conversation from him.
“Nothing happened. I have been taught that everything that happens on the pitch remains on the pitch, like in the dressing room. The things that we say to each other in private will never come out of me,” said Messi.
Messi had missed a penalty during the 2-0 win over Poland but was happy that the team achieved their objective at the end of the day.
“We achieved our first objective, which was to get out of the group after starting the way we did (a shock 2-1 loss against Saudi Arabia),” said Messi.
“I was really frustrated to have missed the penalty, because I knew that a goal could change the whole match, that it makes you play in a different way. But I think that from the penalty I missed, the team came out stronger.”
“After the first goal, everything went our way. We started doing again what we had been trying to do since the start of the World Cup, but which we hadn’t been able to achieve for various reasons. “Having been able to do it today, it gives us confidence for the future.”