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Lionel Messi has expressed regret over his behaviour during and after Argentina‘s quarterfinal win against the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar.
Messi and his teammates were criticised for their actions after the win on penalties following their 2-2 draw on Dec. 9.
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The Paris Saint-Germain star celebrated his 73rd minute penalty goal by running in front of Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal and cupping his hands to his ears.
Messi claimed after the game that Van Gaal “disrespected” Argentina in his “pregame comments.”
“I knew what Van Gaal had said but it [goal celebration] happened on the spur of the moment,” Messi said in an interview in Paris with Andy Kusnetzoff’s “Perros de la Calle.”
“I didn’t like what I did, I didn’t like what happened after. These are moments of nervousness and everything happens very quickly.”
The Argentina captain was seen arguing with Van Gaal and his assistant, Edgar Davids, at full-time.
Messi also reportedly shouted at Nertherlands goalscorer Wout Weghorst during a post-game interview: “What are you looking at fool? Get back there.”
Messi, meanwhile, said despite the long wait to lift the World Cup, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Argentina beat France on penalties to win their first World Cup in 36 years in Qatar in what was Messi’s fifth World Cup.
“I think if I had to choose the moment, it would have been this one,” Messi said. “It’s at the end of my career, closing a circle.
“I achieved everything with the national team as I always dreamed of. I got everything in my career, individually. It was closing my career in a unique way.
“I never imagined that all this was going to happen to me when I started and getting to this moment was the best … I have no complaints and I can’t ask for more.
“We won the Copa America [2021] and the World Cup, there’s nothing left.”
Messi wishes that Diego Maradona could have seen Argentina win the World Cup for the first time since the Napoli legend helped his nation lift the trophy in 1986.
Maradona, who coached Messi at the 2010 World Cup, passed away in December 2020.
“I would have liked that Diego Maradona would have handed me the [World] Cup or at least to have seen all of this,” Messi said.
“To have seen Argentina as World champions, considering how much he desired it and how much he loved the national team. I think he from above as well as many other people that love me, gave me strength.”