Lewandowski also hit back by criticising Messi for not voting for him in the 2020 FIFA The Best Awards.
Lionel Messi breaks silence on a controversial moment with Robert Lewandowski at the 2022 World Cup. Argentina and Poland were in the same group in FIFA World Cup.
Messi’s Argentina topped the Group C and Lewandowski’s Poland finished in second. Argentina secured a 2-0 win against Poland in the group stage. This win assured Argentina sealed a spot in the last 16 against Australia.
Messi appeared to reject Lewandowski’s offer of a mid-game handshake and a cold stance towards the Barcelona forward in the game. Messi has since explained the friction was caused by comments made between the pair over the 2020 Ballon d’Or award.
Messi stated in his acceptance speech that the former Bayern striker deserved the 2020 trophy for his form.
Lewandowski also hit back by criticising Messi for not voting for him in the 2020 FIFA The Best Awards, and Messi was irked by his actions.
“The statements Lewandowski made bothered me. When I won the Ballon d’Or in 2021, I meant what I said about him”, as per an interview with ESPN.
“And for him to speak the way he did, it bothered me. I was upset.
“I was annoyed and that’s why I kept dribbling at him in the World Cup. But, we have spoken about it since, and it is resolved.”
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