Lionel Messi expressed regret for his actions during and after Argentina’s quarterfinal win against the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar.

Messi and his teammates received criticism for their behavior following their 2-2 draw on December 9 and subsequent win on penalties.

The Paris Saint-Germain player ran in front of Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal as he cupped his hands over his ears in celebration of his 73rd-minute penalty goal.

After the game, Messi alleged that Van Gaal’s “pregame statements” “disrespected” Argentina.

In an interview with Andy Kusnetzoff’s “Perros de la Calle” in Paris, Messi remarked, “I knew what Van Gaal had said, but it [the goal celebration] happened on the spur of the moment.”

“I disliked what I did, “These are moments of nervousness and everything happens very quickly.”

The Argentina captain was seen arguing with Van Gaal and his assistant, Edgar Davids, After the Netherlands won the World Cup, Lionel Messi and the coaching staff got into a heated argument.

During a post-game interview, Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands is said to have heard Messi yell, “What are you looking at fool? Return there.

 

Meanwhile, Messi stated he wouldn’t have it any other way despite the lengthy wait to win the World Cup.

In what was Messi’s sixth World Cup, Argentina defeated France on penalties to win their first World Cup in 36 years in Qatar.

Messi stated, “I guess if I had to pick the moment, it would have been this one. “It completes a circle at the end of my career.”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 said he 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, died 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.”