“He shouldn’t have said what he said” - When Lionel Messi expressed anger towards Barcelona star during 2022 FIFA World Cup

Lionel Messi once admitted to shunning Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski when Argentina faced Poland at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Argentine was hurt by remarks made by the striker in 2021, but things were cleared up between them after the match.

Speaking to ESPN in 2022, Messi stated that he was honest about his feelings when he called for France Football to award the 2020 Ballon d'Or to Lewandowski. He was, however, upset when the Barcelona star dismissed them as 'empty words', and that led to him ignoring the Pole throughout the match. He said (via SPORTbible):

"Lewandowski's statement in 2021 bothered me because when I won the Ballon d'Or, I said what I really felt. I ignored him during the game because it was him, and I was angry and thought he shouldn't have said what he said. I was very angry."

"Was I deliberately dribbling because it was him? Yes. After that, we met and talked and agreed that it was a misunderstanding. He was upset because what he said didn't match what was reported. Then he went to Barcelona, and we talked about many things about the club, the city and everything."

Lionel Messi failed to score in the aforementioned match but Argentina won 2-0 and secured their place in the knockout stage. They eventually went on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which led to the Inter Miami star winning the Ballon d'Or again in 2023.

Unfortunately for Lewandowski, the 2020 edition of the Ballon d'Or award was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The then-Bayern Munich striker scored a remarkable 55 goals in 47 appearances during the 2019-20 season.

What did Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski say about Lionel Messi?

In 2021, Robert Lewandowski was quizzed by a Polish TV station about missing out on the Ballon d'Or award that year and he claimed that it was not on his mind. He added that Lionel Messi's claims that he should be awarded the 2020 Ballon d'Or meant nothing to him.

"I'm not that enthusiastic about getting the 2020 award. I would like it [Messi's statement] to be a sincere and courteous statement from a great player and not just empty words," Lewandowski said (via GOAL).

However, the striker later spoke to Kicker and clarified that his words were misinterpreted.

"My statement that I have made in an interview with a Polish TV station has been misinterpreted. I never wanted to express that the words by Lionel Messi weren't sincere or honest," he said. "On the contrary, his words at this event in Paris, when he said that I deserved the Ballon d'Or for 2020 in his opinion, touched me deeply and made me happy. I just wanted to state that I would be very happy if Messi's words would lead to action. I respect Lionel Messi very much and I want to congratulate him once again for winning the Ballon d'Or 2021."

Lionel Messi has helped Inter Miami win the MLS Supporters' Shield this season, contributing 22 goals and 12 assists in 22 matches. Robert Lewandowski, meanwhile, has been in red-hot form for Barcelona under new manager Hansi Flick, scoring 14 goals and providing two asists in 12 outings.