Argentina and Poland captains Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski have both commented on their on-field confrontation after a long-reported history of bad blood between the pair.
Messi and Lewandowski, arguably two of the greatest goalscorers of the modern football era came up against each other for the first time in a World Cup on Wednesday evening.
And the FC Barcelona legend was on the winning side, with a 2-0 scoreline, ironically against the forward now lining up for the Blaugrana.
The record six-time Ballon d’Or winner was pictured squaring up with the towering Pole often and having exchanges on the pitch – and the issues are said to have stemmed over the 2020 Ballon d’Or that was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the time Lewandowski was the undisputed best footballer in the world, with goals and silverware to back the claim – and Messi came out publically to state the Pole should have been awarded the title as he ‘deserved to win’.
But Lewandowski called it ’empty words’ citing the fact that Messi didn’t vote for him when he lifted the FIFA The Best Award.
“I don’t agree with what he said, but I don’t give it that much importance either… Let him say what he wants. I’m not interested,” Messi said in response, as per El Grafico.
But after the fixture in Qatar, Messi refused to open up on what was said between the pair.
“I’ve been taught that everything that happens on the pitch stays on the pitch and that everything that happens in a locker room stays inside the locker room. I’m not going to speak about something that happened privately.”
Lewandowski was similiar in his response when speaking to Polish media in the mix-zone, as per GWFN.
“My conversation with Messi?… I had to defend a lot today, especially against Leo. It was a fun little duel, but it’s all good. Argentina have a great team and are one of the favourites.”
Both sides progressed to the round of 16, with the South American champions scheduled to face Australia, while Poland will take on world champions France.
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