Lionel Messi refused to swap shirts with opponent after being 'too upset' but eventually gave it to him years later

More than two years after Lionel Messi was 'too upset' to swap jerseys with him, Alphonso Davies finally got his wish after Bayern Munich beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

The Canadian full-back was denied Messi's shirt back in August 2020, when Bayern knocked eight goals past Barcelona in a memorable Champions League quarter-final.

After that game, Davies failed in his pursuit of what many deem the ultimate souvenir. "I asked for it but I think he was a little bit upset," the left-back told BT Sport after the full-time whistle. "It's OK, next time hopefully."

But over 900 days later and the defender managed to get the shirt he'd always dreamed of.

Shortly after Kingsley Coman scored the only goal in Paris to give Bayern a 1-0 advantage going into the Champions League last-16 second leg, Davies looked thrilled as he walked towards the Parc des Princes tunnel with Messi's shirt in hand.

Ahead of their meeting, Davies was asked if he watched the Champions League growing up.

"I went to a football academy school, so every Wednesday or Tuesday, around 12:00 Edmonton time, we would watch it as a classroom." he told UEFA.

"All of the footballers were in there, cheering on whoever they wanted to win. It was amazing, and now being able to play in the Champions League, against one of my favourite players in the world [Lionel Messi], it's incredible. Honestly, I'm lost for words - a dream come true.

"My mum called me yesterday and then my dad hopped on the phone, and he was like: 'So you're playing against your favourite player, I see.' And I went: 'Yeah.' And then we both started laughing on the phone.

"Honestly we couldn't even believe it, because he knows that I looked up to Messi when I was younger, and now playing against him, it's really nice."

Davies has come up against Messi on numerous occasions. Image credit: Getty

Messi, meanwhile, has only ever asked one player to swap shirts with him during his career.

Speaking to TyC Sports back in 2017, the former Barcelona forward said: “I don't ask for shirts, I usually swap them, but I asked Zidane once. If there is an Argentine I swap it with him, but, unless someone asks me, I'm not asking anyone.”