sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Lionel Messi was shook when Saudi Arabia defender Ali Al-Bulayhi squared up to him after goal

Home> Football

Published 14:39 22 Nov 2022 GMT

Lionel Messi was shook when Saudi Arabia defender Ali Al-Bulayhi squared up to him after goal

Ali Al-Bulayhi opened up on what he said to Lionel Messi after the full-time whistle.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Ali Al-Bulayhi slapped Lionel Messi's back, squared up to the Argentina forward and said, "You will not win, you will not win!" after Saudi Arabia's second goal on Tuesday.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, who is taking part in his fifth World Cup this year, opened the scoring from 12 yards for favourites Argentina at the Lusail Stadium after Saud Abdulhamid hauled down Leandro Paredes in the area.

But after dominating the first-half of their Group C clash in Doha, Lionel Scaloni's side struggled after the break.

Saleh Alshehri equalised with 48 minutes played before Salem Aldawsari's magnificent effort from the edge of the box handed Herve Renard's side a surprise 2-1 lead.

Advert

Moments after Alshehri's spectacular effort, Al-Hilal defender Ali Al-Bulayhi went over to goalscorer Lionel Messi, slapped him on the back and had a serious word with the Argentine.

Messi, who looked baffled throughout the ordeal, eventually started laughing after Al-Bulayhi squared up to the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

Was this an attempt to intimidate Argentina's captain or was he just having some fun? Well, after the full-time whistle, the defender opened up on that conversation.

After a reporter asked what he said, Al-Bulayhi replied: "I told him: you will not win, you will not win!”

You can see that bizarre moment between the two players below.

Saudi Arabia went on to defend their slender 2-1 lead and, after the full-time whistle, Messi admitted Argentina can have "no excuses" after the shock defeat.

He said: "We knew that (Saudi) Arabia is a team with good players, that moves the ball well and that advances the line a lot. We work on it, but we speed up a bit.

"There are no excuses. We are going to be more united than ever. This group is strong and they have shown it.

"It is a situation that we did not have to go through in a long time. Now we have to show that this is a real group.

"It's a very hard blow for everyone, we didn't expect to start like this. Things happen for a reason. We have to prepare for what's coming, we have to win or win and it depends on us.

"We have to go back to the base of who we are. We have to think about what's to come."

Image credit: Alamy
Image credit: Alamy

Thoughts on Lionel Messi's performance against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@leonardomed

Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Football World Cup, Football

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is the Senior Journalist for SPORTbible, one of the world’s biggest social publishers. He specialises in long-form feature writing and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day. He has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and News Practice.

X

@jackkenmare_

Recommended reads

Dennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • Screenshot from Sidemen YouTube
    2 hours ago

    How Max Fosh made yellow card vanish in flames at Sidemen charity match

    An explanation to how Max Fosh made the yellow card disappear at the Sidemen charity match

    Football
  • YouTube
    2 hours ago

    Sidemen Charity Match 2026 player ratings: ChrisMD, Miniminter and KSI star as two 2/10 ratings dished out

    The YouTube stars took over Wembley Stadium.

    Football
  • Getty Images - X/@craiglcfc
    3 hours ago

    Harry Winks involved in heated confrontation with Leicester fan as relegation looms

    The incident took place after Leicester's defeat against Portsmouth on Saturday.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Coventry City instantly make first signing after securing Premier League promotion

    Coventry City have made their first signing after Frank Lampard led them back to the Premier League.

    Football
  • Lionel Messi snubbed Virgil van Dijk when naming best defender in Premier League
  • Lionel Messi snubbed Virgil van Dijk when naming best defender in Premier League
  • Argentina Announce New Rule Which Would’ve Seen Lionel Messi Banned
  • Lionel Messi Facing Backlash Over ‘Disgusting’ Comment During Inter Miami Bust-Up