As part of the Laureus awards, PSG forward Lionel Messi had a fleeting encounter with Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, months after their tense meeting at the World Cup in Qatar and following Argentina’s 2-0 win over Poland in the third matchday of Group C.
Moments before the event’s start, which was held in Paris, the world’s best player shared a brief dialogue with the former Bayern Munich striker. Amid rumors about a possible landing of the Argentine star in Spain, Saudi Arabia, or the USA, both talked about the Blaugrana club.
“Is everything okay in Barcelona?” was the question Messi asked Lewandowski, evidenced by the video shared on social networks. “Yes, fine,” the Pole replied. “He and his wife are in love with the city,” Antonela Rocuzzo added on behalf of Lewandowski and about Barcelona itself.
“Do you live in Castelldefels?” asked La Pulga, referring to the municipality where Messi has a luxurious three-story house with a terrace. “Yes,” answered Lewandoski, which implied that if the ex-Barcelona man decides to return to the club where he took his first steps, the two could become neighbors.
The friendly dialogue between the world soccer leaders was not the only nod Messi made to the Spanish club during the gala. After receiving the Best Sportsman of the Year award, the national team’s world champion spoke about their achievement in Qatar and his time with the team, now coached by Xavi Hernández.
“I had many joys with Barcelona and many touches of sadness with the national team, but I had many stones along the way, and it made me overcome,” he said.
The words of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner do not go unnoticed in a context of uncertainty as to whether he will return to Barcelona, sign a contract with Saudi club Al-Halil for 400 million euros a year, or give a chance to David Beckham’s Inter Miami, the former England player with whom he spoke at the end of April.
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Messi and Lewandowski cross paths in Qatar
During the match between Argentina and Poland for the third matchday of Group C, Messi was involved in a cold cross with Lewandowski in the last minutes of the game, when the Argentine faced him in the middle of the field in an attempt to advance towards the goal. The Pole marked him with his body to take the ball away from him, blocked him twice, and that situation led to an upset Messi, who did not seem to accept the apology. Five minutes of the six minutes that had been added on were gone.
At the end of the match, the players met, exchanged a few words, covered their mouths so their lips could not be read, and hugged each other, although with faces far from showing affinity. Leo did not smile at any time, and his rival barely grimaced.
“I told Messi that he was playing more defensively than usual. Sometimes that’s what the team needs,” Lewadownski revealed in dialogue with BILD.
Basically, what was behind it was an old dispute, born when the Pole was offended because Messi did not vote for him for The Best award given by FIFA (he voted for Neymar, Mbappé, and Benzema), which in any case, the former striker Bayer Munich and third top scorer in the Bundesliga won.
The forward said after that episode: “I voted for him because I appreciate what he has done. Messi said he would vote for me for the Ballon d’Or, but he didn’t vote for me for The Best. It is his decision, but anyway, I won the prize, so it was easier for me to accept it, “lamented Lewandowski. From that is that everything exploded.
The last wish of the Polish striker
Despite the twists and turns between the two, Lewandowski put aside the existing conflict and advocated the return of ten to the Blaugrana club: “For me, Messi will always be part of Barcelona. If it comes back, not just for the fans but also for the players, that would be awesome. His place is here, in Barcelona. I don’t know what will happen, I’m not the person to ask, but we need those kinds of players.”