Lionel Messi: Weghorst 'disappointed' in star's reply to him after Argentina win | OneFootball

Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst clashed with Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the aftermath of their World Cup quarter-final on Friday evening.

The Albiceleste emerged victorious on penalties in an ill-tempered clash at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, in which no less than 17 yellow cards were shown.

It was an emotionally-charged night – and the magnitude of the occasion even got to the usually mild-mannered Messi.

Some pretty wild footage emerged from inside the tunnel shortly after the match showing Weghorst in an altercation with a number of Argentina players, including Lautaro Martinez and Lisandro Martinez.

Also present was retired striker Sergio Aguero, who was at the match supporting his countrymen.

In the midst of the commotion, Messi broke away from a post-match interview he was conducting and shouted at Weghorst.

Per Marca, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner bellowed: “What are you looking at, dummy. Go on that way, dummy. Go away,” together with a number of “offensive words”.

Such behaviour is most out of character for Messi.

The 35-year-old is renowned for keeping his cool at all times. However, the conduct of the Netherlands camp during the match clearly riled him up.

A clip of Weghorst’s own post-match interview has now emerged on social media, with the Dutch frontman revealing that the Paris Saint-Germain superstar had refused to shake his hand after the match.

You can check it out below.

“I wanted to give him a hand after the match. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a football player,” insisted Weghorst.

“He smashed my hand away and he didn’t want to speak with me.

“My Spanish is not so good, but [Messi’s] words were not respectful. It’s really disappointing.

Why did Messi refuse to shake hands with Weghorst?

Aerial footage has since come to light of several Netherlands players deliberately trying to disturb Argentina’s penalty takers during the shoot-out, which would explain the intense bad feeling between the two sides after the match.

Weghorst turned the match upside down when he grabbed a late brace to force extra-time and, ultimately, penalties.

If he was hoping that the ill will might have disappeared once the tie was settled, though, he was apparently mistaken.

To be fair to the striker – currently on loan to Besiktas from Championship side Burnley – he does sound genuinely sad to have been snubbed by one of the greats of the game.

Make no mistake, Messi is a man on a mission in Qatar. By his own admission, the 2022 World Cup is the last time he will grace international football’s grandest stage.

He desperately wants to sign off by delivering Argentina’s first World Cup in 36 years and is now only two victories away from making that dream a reality.

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