• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Wojciech Szczesny lost a €100 bet with Lionel Messi over controversial VAR penalty decision

Home> Football

Updated 08:47 1 Dec 2022 GMTPublished 23:58 30 Nov 2022 GMT

Wojciech Szczesny lost a €100 bet with Lionel Messi over controversial VAR penalty decision

The Poland goalkeeper joked he will "probably get a ban" for admitting to the bet with Lionel Messi.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has jokingly said he will "probably get a ban" after spilling the beans on a €100 bet with Lionel Messi.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper was adjudged to have fouled Messi in the first-half of Wednesday's Group C clash between Poland and Argentina.

Despite there being minimal contract from the former Arsenal shot-stopper, who had every right to challenge for the ball, Argentina were awarded a penalty after a lengthy VAR check.

Advert

But seconds later, justice was served when Szczesny pulled off an impressive save to deny Messi from 12 yards.

 Szczesny pulls off a terrific save to stop Messi from opening the scoring in Doha. Image credit: Alamy
Szczesny pulls off a terrific save to stop Messi from opening the scoring in Doha. Image credit: Alamy

Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez would spare Messi's blushes in the second-half and, much to their relief, Poland managed to qualify by the narrowest of margins.

Everyone was in good spirits after the full-time whistle, including in-form Juventus goalkeeper Szczesny, who opened up about that penalty incident in an interview with TV 2 Sport.

Advert

You can see that chat with Norwegian journalist Arilas Ould-Saada below.

Szczesny said: "We spoke before the penalty. I told him I'd bet €100 that he [the referee] wasn't going to give it. So, I've lost a bet against Messi.

"I don't know if that's allowed at the World Cup. I'm probably going to get banned for it. I don't care right now. I'm not going to pay him either. He doesn't care about €100, c'mon."

Advert

He certainly isn't short of confidence. In another post-match interview with TVP, the experienced Poland international claimed he always knew where Messi was going to place his shot.

"I immediately told the referee that I touched him (Messi) with my hand in the face, but I only hit him on the side of his face," Szczesny explained.

"I told him there was contact but I don't think there is a penalty. The referee decided otherwise and that's fine - I got to show off.

"Now I can say that I knew where Messi would shoot, but at the time I wasn't so sure. Leo looks at the keeper on some penalties and hits hard on others. I knew that if he was going to hit hard, it would be more to my left."

Advert

He added: "I saw that he was not stopping, so I went, I sensed, I defended. I'm happy because that penalty gave something in the end. Very big satisfaction. I owed it to the team."

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

Poland will face reigning champions France in the knockout stages on Sunday.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@tv2sport

Topics: Poland, Argentina, Lionel Messi, Football World Cup

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Lionel Messi reveals the one football match he lost that still 'tortures' him
  • What happened to the 25 players Bleacher Report tipped to be the 'next Lionel Messi' back in 2010
  • Lionel Messi brands official a 'coward' in furious incident during Argentina defeat
  • Lionel Messi aims dig at Raphinha with statement after Argentina's win over Brazil

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Ex-Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick taken to hospital as Austrian FA issue statement

    Rangnick has been forced to go back under the knife following complications.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Andy Robertson wrote heartbreaking message to Diogo Jota in note left at Anfield after his tragic death

    The Liverpool star paid his respects at Anfield on Tuesday.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Viktor Gyokeres transfer saga takes ANOTHER twist after key issue during negotiations that could end deal

    Arsenal are hoping to complete a deal for the Sporting striker.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Chelsea fans are convinced one player needs to leave following win over Fluminense in Club World Cup

    Chelsea are in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

    Football