Lionel Messi has some very strict rules when it comes to swapping his shirt at the end of the game, but it appears he may have broken them on Saturday night.
Loading…
It would hardly be a surprise to learn that at the end of a match lots of people want Messi's shirt, not just the kids in the stands with the signs but also those he's been up against.
What better a memento of a game you've spent 90 minutes chasing one of the world's best ever than taking home his shirt and mounting it with the number facing outwards, as a reminder of the view you had for much of the match.
Whilst the little magician gets asked for his shirt all the time, he famously has only ever asked Zinedine Zidane for a swap, and has a rule not to be the one requesting a shirt.
On Saturday night he provided two assists during PSG's win over St Etienne and then appeared to ask defender Falaye Sacko for his shirt.
Why does it look like Messi was asking for that guy's shirt? 😂pic.twitter.com/pwIF3J8fuw
— Aryesh 𓃵| MidfieldSZN (@aryesh_10) February 27, 2022
Would cry if Messi ask for my shirt tbh, tears of fckin joy👊🏿😹
— 🕳 (@ffss_16) February 27, 2022
Sacko: “Be cool, be cool, be cool.” https://t.co/HZcmOPesyA
— Gnar Kelly (@petty_fc) February 27, 2022
The guys is like, “hey, sure.”
— Jhon Chávez (@jhoneliu7) February 27, 2022
I’d die. https://t.co/HTGCALi8cl
Looks like he asked…the guy wasn’t even over excited about it…that makes me think the guy didn’t even ask for it in the first place https://t.co/E9suCzPmix
— Sensei-Adeiza.eth 🐼 (@alhaji_panda) February 27, 2022
But that’s it...that’s what happened https://t.co/5yt5B2eKHI
— Zlatan Heir (@Mujeeb_Ayo) February 27, 2022
As well as only usually swapping with Zidane, the seven time Ballon d'Or winner has one other rule when it comes to swaps, and that's to make sure it's with a fellow countryman.
"If there is an Argentine I swap with him, but unless someone asks me, I'm not asking anyone," he said when talking about the time the former Real Madrid midfielder got his jersey.
However because so many people ask him, and he's usually more than willing to swap, the 34-year-old actually has a very impressive shirt collection.
There is one other player who claims to have been on the receiving end of a request from the former Barcelona star to swap shirts at the end of a game.
Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger once told the story that Cesc Fabregas went up to the centre back to tell him Messi wanted the German's shirt.
As well as his own number 10, the Argentina star also handed over some other pieces of memorabilia, according to the centre back.
"When I came back and opened the bag, there was [not just] Messi's shirt, but also those of Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, Dani Alves, [Gerard] Pique and [Carles] Puyol," the Chelsea player revealed.
"I will never forget that gesture.
It's time to add Sacko to a very exclusive list.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter
Topics: Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, Zinedine Zidane
- Lionel Messi overlooked by Christophe Galtier for promotion in PSG first team
- Fans stunned after hearing Lionel Messi speak English 'for the first time'
- PSG star Lionel Messi’s incredible exchange with interviewer is an absolute must-watch
- A nine-minute compilation of Lionel Messi being 'the best dribbler of all time' is footballing perfection
.png)
