Lionel Messi sent goalkeeper unusual gift after scoring three goals against him
This Polish goalkeeper faced off against Lionel Messi multiple times during his career, and has reminders of how many times the icon found the back of his net
Messi gifted Szczesny some beers after scoring past him (Image: Getty)
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has a unique way of remembering how often Lionel Messi has found the back of his net - because the Argentinian sent him bottles of beer as mementoes. The ex-Juventus and Arsenal goalkeeper recently made a surprise move to Barcelona, stepping out of retirement and in as an emergency replacement for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Upon touching down in Barcelona, Szczesny shared tales of his encounters with club icon Messi, reflecting on the few goals he let in from the Argentine wizard.
The exact number of strikes that left the icon's boot and found their way past Szczesny, three, will scarcely be forgotten by the 34-year-old shot-stopper, though, as they are immortalised by the keepsake bottles of beer - sent to the Polish ace by Messi himself.
Messi's historic 644th goal for Barcelona in 2020, which set the record for the most goals scored by a player for one club, prompted him to collaborate with Budweiser - who sent out 644 bottles to the 160 keepers Messi had scored against, with each bottle representing a goal. Szczesny was among those who got this unusual tribute.
"I think Leo only scored three [against me]," Szczesny revealed to Mundo Deportivo after joining Barcelona. "I remember because he only sent me three beers!
"There are probably other players who have scored more against me, but he was the only one I was actually afraid to play against. Because he was that good."
Szczesny and Messi have crossed paths seven times in their careers, with two of Messi's goals coming while Szczesny was at Roma, during a Champions League match in 2015.
Szczesny saved Messi's spot-kick at the 2022 World Cup (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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The third was scored during another European clash in 2020 when Messi's Barcelona put Juventus to the sword in Turin. Szczesny has, in fact, stated that a save he made against the icon was the best he's made in his career.
"The most satisfying save was Messi's penalty in the Qatar World Cup," he clarified. "The stadium and the rival made that moment very special for me."
Szczesny shared another anecdote from their humorous exchange at the 2022 World Cup, revealing a bet he made with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner: "No, I didn't think it [the penalty] would be given," he recounted to TV 2 Sport, speaking on an incident that saw the Polish star collide with Messi inside the box - resulting in the eventually saved spot-kick.
"We spoke before the penalty and I told him I can bet him €100 that he 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 be banned for it. I don't care right now. I'm not going to pay him either," he quipped, adding in jest, "He doesn't care about €100, come on!"
