Netherlands star Wout Weghorst has given his side of the story in relation to his World Cup bust-up with Argentina talisman Lionel Messi.
The pair locked horns after the Dutch were eliminated by the Albiceleste at the quarter-final stage of the competition in what was a thrilling encounter. Argentina boasted a two-nil lead with just 10 minutes to play but Weghorst bagged a brace to take the tie into extra time and eventually penalties.
Though Weghorst kept his composure to score his spot-kick, it was the eventual champions Argentina that progressed after a hard-fought, ill-tempered affair that saw a record amount of yellow cards shown. The animosity between the two teams continued long after the shootout had ended and carried over into the tunnel.
At the time, Weghorst was thought to have clashed with both Messi and Sergio Aguero and explained: "I wanted to shake his [Messi’s] hand after the match, but he smashed my hand away and didn’t want to speak with me.
The 30-year-old currently plies his trade for Besiktas on loan from Championship outfit Burnley and carried his impressive international form over into club level with a goal during his first game back - a 4-2 comeback win against 4-2 against Sanliurfaspor.
It was after this contest that Weghorst was asked for more clarity on what actually occured between Messi and himself after the quarter-final clash in Qatar, to which he replied: "During a match, for me, everyone on the pitch is the same, doesn’t matter if I’m playing Messi or [Sanliurfaspor defender Abdulsamet] Burak.
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"I always fight with everything I have. I did that in that match as well. I had some moments with Messi. He was surprised at these moments, and he didn’t like it."
Weghorst stopped short of criticising the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and actually took the opportunity to praise Messi for all he has done in the game.
"I don’t like to speak about other people. I have a lot of respect for him. I think he’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever had in football history.
"I wanted to show this respect after the match. But he wasn’t really open to that, he was still a little bit angry with me. But I see it as a big plus that he knows my name now!"
Weghorst wasn't the only Dutchman in Messi's line of fire, with Netherlands national team boss Louis van Gaal also getting an earful from the Argentine after the game.
It was a similar story for Edgar Davids, with the former Juventus midfielder pictured in a heated exchange with Messi after the game alongside Van Gaal.
