Lionel Messi has shown regret for the way he behaved with Louis van Gaal after their FIFA World Cup 2022 quarter-final clash, however, fans believe Messi is showing “fake humility”. In the latest interview with TyC Sports, Messi explained that he himself did not like his behavior.
“I didn’t like the way I behaved. But these are moments of extreme tension and nervousness, things happen very quickly. You react the way you react and you don’t think. I don’t like to come across like this, but these things also happen.”
Messi faking humility again
— 🇲🇦 (@soufp4cked) January 30, 2023
The scenes after the match were as dramatic as the scenes that played out during the nerve-wracking quarter-final. Messi swaggered toward the Dutch dugout where Van Gaal and his assistant coach Edgar Davids were standing. The Argentine gestured that Van Gaal had spoken too much before the game.
A day before the game, Van Gaal had said: “Messi is the most dangerous creative player, he is able to create a lot and to score goals himself. But when they lose the ball and the opponent has possession he doesn’t participate much, and this gives us chances [to exploit].”
However, after the match, Van Gaal explained that the media misinterpreted his words. He was just praising Messi. Argentina knocked the Netherlands out of the World Cup in 2014 as well.
Argentina’s coach Leo Scaloni explained Messi’s angry gesture and said that “Messi showed who is the best of all time. We are happy to have him with us.”
Lionel Messi to Wout Weghorst after the match: “What are you looking at, dumby? Go back there, dumby. Get back there, yes!” 😨pic.twitter.com/LaJlIgpaRy
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) December 10, 2022
Messi was also involved in an ugly incident with now-Manchester United player Wout Weghorst. Weghorst, who apparently just came to shake hands, was slandered by Messi.
Fans react as Lionel Messi issues statement on inappropriate World Cup behavior
Fans have called out Messi for his latest comments. They believe Messi is just covering up for his misbehavior, otherwise, there is no humility in him.
He is not humble at all.
— 𝐀𝐝𝐨 🌊 (@bosnianflairr) January 30, 2023
biggest false image
— 𝒦 (@Badroninho) January 30, 2023
Liarrrrr
— JA1️⃣9️⃣ (@Sterling_777) January 30, 2023
Fraud
— CaPaLoT 🧢 (@Abuloted) January 30, 2023
The match between Argentina and the Netherlands was arguably the best match of the World Cup until the final heroics of Messi and Kylian Mbappe. In the quarter-final, Nahuel Molina scored in the first half for Argentina. Messi got another from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute to give Argentina cruise control.
Then began the Weghorst show. He scored a header in the 82nd minute and in stoppage time converted again from a fantastic free-kick routine to bring the Dutch level. Argentina sealed the win in the penalty shootouts by 4-3.