“Wait, are you not giving me your shirt?” – When Lionel Messi made ex-Manchester United star feel ‘surreal’ during fanboy moment
Former Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes recently revealed that he was left stunned when Lionel Messi asked for his shirt last year.
While representing Lille during a match against PSG in February 2022, Gomes asked Messi if he could have his shirt. The Argentine forward obliged and asked for Gomes' shirt in return, which stunned the Lille midfielder.
Angel Gomes came through the youth ranks at Manchester United before leaving the club in 2020. He has fared well in his time in France, scoring six goals and providing eight assists in 66 games for Lille.
Speaking to the BBC, Gomes recalled the incident with Messi and claimed that he was star-stuck just getting the shirt from the Argentine forward. However, things got better for the youngster after Messi asked for his Lille shirt in return. He said:
"It was just like a fanboy moment, I can't lie. [He] gave me his shirt, he took his t-shirt off and he gave it me. And for me, I was like 'alright, happy days', like cheers. And he was like 'wait, are you not giving me your shirt?' I was like 'what, you want my shirt?!' He was like 'yeah', so I was like 'alright'. From watching him on TV, watching videos of him actually playing, to playing against him and getting his shirt, it was surreal for me."
The incident took place after PSG's 5-1 win over Lille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in which Messi scored in the 38th minute.
Lionel Messi's unpleasant incident with Manchester United star at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
While Angel Gomes had a pleasant experience with Lionel Messi, Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst had a forgettable moment with the Argentine at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Weghorst waited to shake hands with Messi after the Netherlands were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup by Argentina in the quarterfinals, but was ignored by the PSG star. The two players could be seen arguing with each other during the high-stakes encounter.
The Dutch striker said about the incident:
"For me, everyone is the same in a match. I fight. That's what I did in that match. I had some tense moments with Messi in the match and maybe he was surprised. I respect him a lot, he's one of the best ever. After the game I wanted to show Messi the respect I have for him, but he wasn't very open to it. Now at least he has learnt my name."
Messi later admitted that he wasn't proud of the way he behaved and said:
"I don't like what I did. There was a lot of tension and it came out naturally. A lot had happened with this player and two others during the match. It came out naturally. I don't like this image."
Lionel Messi is set to leave PSG at the end of the season as his contract with the club comes to an end. Wout Weghorst, on the other hand, will return to Burnley when his loan deal with the Red Devils expires in the summer.