Messi expressed immediate remorse, stating, 'I instantly regretted it,' regarding his contentious World Cup celebration directed towards Van Gaal

"Lionel Messi made a surprising revelation about his World Cup celebration, aimed at Louis Van Gaal."

Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, capped off his illustrious career with a triumphant victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This prestigious achievement marked the completion of his trophy collection, with the Barcelona legend having previously not secured this particular title.

Argentina kicked off their journey with a setback, suffering a 1-2 defeat against Saudi Arabia that left their fans in disbelief. Despite being favored at the tournament's start, the loss dealt a blow to their aspirations. However, an energized Lionel Messi spearheaded their recovery in the subsequent match, securing a 2-0 victory over Mexico. The ex-PSG standout unleashed a spectacular strike in the 64th minute, complemented by an extraordinary inaugural World Cup goal from Enzo Fernandez.

In their ultimate game, Messi failed to convert a penalty against Poland; nonetheless, goals from Alexis Mac Allister (46') and Julian Alvarez (67') ensured a 2-0 triumph, allowing them to clinch the group's top spot. Progressing to the Round of 16, Argentina confronted Australia, where Messi netted another goal in a 2-1 victory. In their subsequent clash against the Netherlands, tensions ran high, particularly fueled by Dutch manager Louis Van Gaal's criticism of Messi in the pre-match build-up. In the first half, a superb assist from Messi led to Nahuel Molina (35') scoring the opening goal. Argentina extended their lead to 2-0 with a penalty in the 73rd minute. Following his goal, Messi celebrated by rushing towards the Dutch dugout, covering his ears with his hands in an iconic gesture. However, Wout Weghorst staged a late comeback for the Dutch, netting two goals in the 83rd minute and the 11th minute of stoppage time. Despite both teams failing to score in extra time, the CONMEBOL side secured a 4-3 victory in the shootout.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Messi disclosed that he regretted his goal celebration directed at Van Gaal. Prior to the match, Van Gaal had commented on Messi's playing style and highlighted his contributions off the ball.