Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has revealed he had a €100 bet with Argentina captain Lionel Messi during Wednesday’s game.
The 32-year-old saved a Messi penalty in the first half but couldn’t prevent his side from losing 2-0 to the Albiceleste.
However, the result saw both teams qualify for the last 16 ahead of Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
The big talking point, though, was a first-half penalty, which referee Danny Makkelie awarded after VAR review for Szczesny catching Messi’s face after missing a cross.
Szczesny nów revealed he was so confident the official wouldn’t point to the spot, he even bet €100 (R1,800) with Messi.
“We spoke before the penalty and I told would bet him €100 that he [referee] wasn’t going to give it,” Szczesny told TV2, as cited by ESPN.
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“So I’ve lost a bet against Messi.
“I don’t know if that’s allowed at the World Cup — I’m probably going to get banned for it! But I don’t care right now.
“I’m not going to pay him either — he doesn’t care about €100 I think he has enough.”
Szczesny also opened up on saving Messi’s penalty, which was already the second spot-kick he parried at the 2022 FIFA World Cup after denying Salem Al-Dawsari from the spot in Poland’s 2-0 second-round win.
“I was fortunate twice this competition,” he told RAI Sport, as per ESPN.
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“It’s a great moment in the career of a player, the World Cup is the maximum and this is special.
“There’s a bit of work that goes into it, too, but in order to save a Messi penalty, you need some luck as well.”
