Lionel Messi has long been admired for his incredible skill and sportsmanship, yet he recently opened up about the one time he purposely tried to “humiliate” an opponent during a game. The Argentine star, widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch, rarely lets his emotions spill over. However, a clash with Poland’s Robert Lewandowski during the 2022 World Cup led to one of the rare instances when Messi allowed his frustration to influence his play.
At 37, Messi’s status as football’s GOAT (Greatest of All Time) is uncontested by many, thanks to his humility combined with his astonishing ability. Throughout his illustrious career, he has earned eight Ballon d’Or titles and won 45 major trophies while playing for clubs like Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami, and the Argentina national team. Since his move to Inter Miami in 2023, a team co-owned by David Beckham, Messi has quickly made his mark in Major League Soccer (MLS), scoring 20 goals and providing 10 assists. He helped guide his new club to both the Leagues Cup title and the MLS Supporters’ Shield, with his remarkable hat trick in a 6-2 victory against the New England Revolution on October 19 securing his place as the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Despite his generally composed demeanor, Messi has shown his fierce competitive nature on occasion, particularly in tense moments on the field. One such moment occurred during the 2022 World Cup group stage match between Argentina and Poland. On paper, it was expected to be a routine encounter for Messi and his Argentine teammates. However, a key factor made the match a bit more personal for Messi: Robert Lewandowski, one of the most prolific goal-scorers in the world and a fellow contender in the 2021 Ballon d’Or race, was playing for Poland.
The tension between Messi and Lewandowski had been brewing since the 2021 Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Messi took home his record-breaking seventh trophy. Many fans and pundits, however, felt that Lewandowski deserved the accolade that year due to his historic 41-goal campaign in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich. While Messi graciously acknowledged that Lewandowski should have won the 2020 Ballon d’Or, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his gesture was met with a less-than-favorable response. Lewandowski dismissed Messi’s remarks as “empty words,” implying that the Argentine’s praise lacked sincerity.
This apparent slight stuck with Messi. During the 2022 World Cup match, when Lewandowski tackled him, the Polish forward attempted to make amends by extending a hand in sportsmanship. However, Messi, still harboring a sense of irritation from Lewandowski’s earlier comments, chose not to reciprocate the gesture. Reflecting on the incident, Messi later admitted in an interview with ESPN that his cold reaction was fueled by lingering resentment. “Lewandowski’s statement in 2021 bothered me because when I won the Ballon d’Or, I said what I really felt,” Messi explained.
“I ignored him during the game because it was him, and I was angry. Was I deliberately trying to dribble past him because it was him? Yes,” Messi confessed, hinting that his actions were a rare display of pettiness driven by the public remarks that had rubbed him the wrong way.
However, as is typical of Messi’s character, the two players eventually reconciled. After the match, Messi and Lewandowski had a private conversation where they cleared the air. “We met and talked, and we agreed that it was all a misunderstanding. He was upset because what he said didn’t match what was reported,” Messi revealed. The pair’s relationship, which had been tense following the Ballon d’Or controversy, was mended during their discussion. Messi even went on to praise Lewandowski, recalling a chat they had when Lewandowski transferred to Barcelona, where the two spoke about football, the city, and their shared experiences.
In the world of elite football, where emotions often run high and stakes are immense, moments of rivalry are inevitable. Messi’s willingness to reflect on his rare display of anger offers a glimpse into the human side of a player often admired for his sportsmanship and calm demeanor. It shows that even the greatest can let their emotions get the better of them from time to time. Nevertheless, his eventual reconciliation with Lewandowski exemplifies the maturity that has defined his career. Messi continues to prove that, even in moments of tension, mutual respect and understanding can prevail, cementing his legacy not just as a footballing genius but as a true sportsman.
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