Lionel Messi looks back on Wout Weghorst World Cup dropout: ‘I don’t like what I did’

It was dramatic on that December 9th last year.

Argentina took a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-finals before Wout Weghorst forced extra time with a double in the closing stages. The South Americans finally prevailed 4-3 on penalties.

In addition, the pack formations and the 17 yellow and one yellow-red card strained the nerves of everyone involved. Lionel Messi even interrupted a TV interview after the final whistle and defamed Weghorst as a “fool”.

“I didn’t think about it, it came out at that moment,” Messi explained.

Messi: ‘It wasn’t planned’

“I don’t like what I did. But well, there are moments of great tension, great nervousness and everything happens very quickly,” said the 35-year-old. “You react the way you react, it wasn’t planned. I don’t want to leave this image behind, but these are things that happen.”

Weghorst explained shortly after the incident that he really only wanted to give Messi shake hands, “but he withdrew his hand and didn’t want to speak to me. My Spanish isn’t that good, but he said disrespectful words to me,” the Dutchman described Situation.

Messi: ‘I haven’t watched the final anymore’

While Weghorst had to return home with his team after the party, Messi led the Albiceleste to the world title.

However, he hasn’t really watched the equally dramatic final against France, which Argentina won 7-5 on penalties. “I saw the highlights, the moments, the cheers of the people when we became world champions – but I didn’t watch the final itself, the 90 minutes.”