Argentina vs. Poland – or also: Robert Lewandowski vs. Lionel Messi. The duel between the two world stars has a history. Will one or the other end the other’s national team career?
In the first big duel of world footballers of this World Cup threatens Lionel Messi or Robert Lewandowski just four days after scoring the decisive goals for their teams, the sudden end of bliss. Messi had Argentina against Mexico helped win and Lewandowski Poland redeemed with his first goal in the World Cup. Emotions then overtook the former Bayern star, he was close to tears.
Now that both top scorers meet, it should only remain harmonious if the former superstar of the FC Barcelona and his successor managed to reach the round of 16 together with a draw. But Messi and Co. would come from the result of the parallel game Saudi Arabia dependent on Mexico.
The loser of the match could be ejected. It will be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, as the 35-year-old himself has said several times. Even with Lewandowski, 34, it is not to be expected that he will play in another World Cup. So it could all be over for both world stars after the match: Never again World Cup.
The Argentina coach does not want to compare Lewandowski and Messi
As a result, world football on Wednesday (from 20:00 live on t-online in the ticker) is watching the Stadion 974 field in Qatar. Just shaking hands between the two captains before kick-off will become a much-noticed event. “Everything is fine between me and Messi. I have nothing against him, I never had” Lewandowski said.
But especially from Messi’s home country, the all-or-nothing match for Argentina and Poland to enter the knockout stage is fueled. The sports newspaper “Olé” told the “story of a rivalry that the Pole provoked”, which is now entering its “world chapter”.
“Ever since the group stage was drawn, the whole world has been waiting for this match,” Polish national team coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said at a press conference in Al-Rajjan on the upcoming match on Tuesday: “But Poland are facing Argentina and not Robert versus Leo.”
His colleague dodged the question of whether Lewandowski was on Messi’s level, like Messi with a slip. “He is a great player”, instead Lionel Scaloni praised Lewandowski. It’s a pleasure to see Lewandowski play up close. Comparing the two is pointless.
This is behind the Zoff between Messi and Lewandowski
The alleged quarrel between the two began when Lewandowski was named world footballer for the second consecutive time in mid-January. Messi, who could vote for Argentina captain, did not vote for the Pole.
“The question must go to him. I didn’t do anything wrong for him to be mad at me. Apart from the sports part, it’s different, but hopefully everything went well in private,” Lewandowski said the day after the election. Almost a month earlier, he had finished only second in Ballon d’Or voting, also it prestigious and awarded by journalists and “France Football” – behind Messi “You broke records and deserved the Ballon d’Or too,” Messi told Lewandowski.
So is there pure harmony between Lewandowski, who has scored 77 goals in 136 games for Poland, and Messi, who has scored 93 goals in 167 games for Argentina?
No, not really, they both always want to be the best and win it all – for such superstars it’s normal and standard. This makes them rivals in itself. The alleged dispute around her seems quite publicized in the media. Messi and Lewandowski are known neither as big talkers nor conflict types.
Messi on Lewandowski: ‘I don’t care’
But how did Lewandowski’s alleged Zoff continue with Messi? In an interview with the Polish football newspaper “Złota Piłka” in early February, Lewandowski said after being named a world footballer that he came to the conclusion that the FIFA award mattered more. Naturally, that was and is seen as an affront in Messi’s home country. Secretly, however, Lewandowski also ardently wishes to hold this Ballon d’Or in his hands, as did the French Karim Benzema recently.
