SUMMARY
- Hugo Loris and Lionel Messi faced each other during the World Cup Finals
- Messi made Hugo hang up his boots gloves after defeating France in the World Cup Finals.
Lionel Messi will face his familiar foe once again this season as Hugo Lloris made his MLS debut recently. Messi’s Inter Miami clocked their first win of the season after defeating Real Salt Lake 2-0. While Messi appeared to have shrugged off his injury concerns, Robert Taylor and Diego Gomez’s goals sealed the win. However, ahead of facing Messi’s Inter Miami, Lloris has revealed his wishes.
Lionel Messi and Hugo Lloris faced each other back in the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France. In what was a thrilling encounter, the score remained 3-3 after 120 minutes of regulation time. While Messi and Angel Di Maria scored the goals for Argentina, Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick saved France’s blushes. However, it was Messi’s Argentina that ultimately triumphed over Lloris’ France on penalties.
Almost a month after the final, Hugo Lloris announced his retirement from international soccer. With a record 145 appearances for the national team and a World Cup title under his belt, Lloris bade farewell from the French national team. While Lloris would have liked to end his international career with a second World Cup triumph, Messi stood in the former French skipper’s way.
🚨Breaking News: Hugo Lloris signs for MLS side, LA Galaxy, from Tottenham Hotspurs, until 2024 with options for 2025 and 2026 🔥
After 447 appearnaces for the Spurs, the French goalkeeper bids the Premier League goodbye 👏#Lloris #TottenhamHotspurs #Tottenham #LAGalaxy #LAFC… pic.twitter.com/U3cqMaThrY
— 365Scores (@365Scores) December 30, 2023
However, Messi and Lloris will face each other again this season when Inter Miami’s MLS clash against LA FC. Shortly after Messi’s move to Inter Miami in July 2023, Lloris announced that he would be leaving Tottenham Hotspur for LA FC in December last year. The former Tottenham star signed a one-year contract worth $350,000 to join the MLS side despite reported offers from Saudi Arabia and other European clubs.
Hugo Lloris reveals the one favor he wants from Lionel Messi
LA FC star Hugo Lloris has revealed that he might ask one favor from Lionel Messi when he will face Inter Miami sometime in the future this season. During an interview, Lloris expressed his desire for getting hold of the Inter Miami skipper’s jersey. He said, “When we (Los Angeles FC) will face Messi, Maybe for the first time I will ask Messi for his shirt.” While Lloris has faced Messi previously, he never has asked for the Argentine’s jersey.
🚨🗣️Hugo Lloris (France Legend & LAFC Goalkeeper) :
“When we (Los Angeles FC) will face Messi, Maybe for the first time I will ask Messi for his shirt. I have never asked for it before but I need it” pic.twitter.com/oCRWcgFLIS
— PSG Chief (@psg_chief) February 25, 2024
Lionel Messi faced Hugo Lloris for the first time back in 2009 when FC Barcelona played against Lyon. The two also faced each other when Messi’s FC Barcelona faced Lloris’ Tottenham. Messi and Lloris also went head-to-head in the 2018 World Cup when France defeated Argentina 4-3 in the round of 16. To date, Messi has scored five goals and provided two assists in six appearances against the ex-French international.
Hugo Lloris brutally taunted Lionel Messi’s Argentine teammate after 2022 World Cup defeat
Meanwhile, Hugo Lloris had some words of criticism stored for Lionel Messi’s compatriot Emiliano Martinez after the 2022 World Cup final. Despite conceding three goals, it was Martinez’s heroics in the penalty shootout that sealed Argentina’s victory. Martinez saved Kingsley Coman’s spot kick and made an outstanding save against Randal Kolo Muani from point-blank range in the dying seconds of extra time.
Hugo Lloris isn’t a fan of Emi Martinez’s antics 👀 pic.twitter.com/JpCWBbQvvC
— GOAL (@goal) January 10, 2023
However, Martinez received much criticism for his antics on the pitch and during celebrating Argentina’s World Cup triumph. Martinez’s actions also didn’t go down well with Hugo Lloris. The former French skipper said, “Making a fool of myself in goal, rattling my opponent and crossing the line. I just can’t do that.” Lloris also claimed that his rationality and honesty would prevent him from behaving in such a manner.