Playing in Dallas, Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a composed first-time finish using his left foot. The Argentina captain later completed his brace in the fourth minute of stoppage time after a chaotic situation inside the penalty area.
Shortly after the final whistle, several Austrian players approached Messi to congratulate him. Sabitzer attracted particular attention after holding a lengthy and friendly conversation with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Television cameras showed Sabitzer smiling, gesturing and repeatedly speaking to Messi. Although their conversation could not be heard, viewers and media outlets speculated that the Austrian midfielder may have asked for Messi’s match-worn shirt.
However, Messi appeared unwilling to part with the jersey. Footage later showed the former Barcelona star walking toward the tunnel while still wearing it, leading fans to believe that he wanted to preserve the shirt from the historic match.
Social media users reacted humorously to the exchange. Some suggested that Sabitzer had recognized an opportunity to obtain an especially valuable piece of football memorabilia, while others argued that Messi was almost certain to keep the shirt for himself.
The jersey carried additional significance because Messi reportedly reached 18 World Cup goals with his two strikes against Austria. The total moved him ahead of Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. Messi also reportedly matched the achievement of Just Fontaine and Jairzinho by scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches.
Despite earlier missing a penalty during Argentina’s second Group J match, Messi still ended the night with another decisive performance and a new place in World Cup history. Whether Sabitzer actually requested the shirt remains unconfirmed, but their post-match conversation quickly became one of the game’s most discussed moments.
Sources: Znews
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