Szczesny and Messi bet on the penalty decision

While discussing whether the Qatar-hosted tournament was “boring” due to slow matches and too many games ending goalless in the first half, Szczesny shared an interesting detail with football fans in his statement to reporters on the mixed field.

Regarding the position of the penalty, the 32-year-old Polish goalkeeper said: “We made a €100 bet with Messi if a penalty would be scored and I lost. According to the rules, I might get punished for that. I won’t give the money to Messi because I don’t care anyway”, he said.

In the 36th minute of the game, where Argentina defeated Poland 2-0, goalkeeper Szczesny and Messi had an aerial ball fight. Dutch referee Danny Makkelie, who examined the position after the VAR warning, signaled the penalty spot.

Goalkeeper Szczesny did not allow the goal kicking the ball to the left of Messi’s shot. (AA)