'Like Game of Thrones..' Cody Gakpo describes Lionel Messi’s fierce version in 2022 World Cup

Dutch forward Cody Gakpo shared his reflections on the experience of facing Lionel Messi and Argentina during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Messi shook hands with destiny as he achieved his ultimate triumph by leading Argentina to their first World Cup victory since 1986. The quarter-final match against Gakpo's Netherlands was intense, ending in a 4-3 penalty shootout after a violent game that saw a total of 18 yellow cards issued. Tensions ran high, with Messi engaging in heated altercations with both Louis van Gaal and striker Wout Weghorst.

Argentina's triumph advanced them to the semi-final match against Croatia, where they secured a 3-0 victory. This led them to the final against France, where Messi's team emerged victorious in a penalty shootout ultimately being crowned as the world champions.

Gakpo explains how 2022 World Cup's Messi was something else 

Gakpo recently shared how Messi appeared to be different during the tournament in Qatar.

"I’ll never forget playing Argentina. The Battle of Lusail. What a game. I mean, it was like Game of Thrones with all the crazy plot twists! You didn’t know what was going to happen from one minute to the next. Then just when you thought you knew how it would end" Gakpo said.

"But this time, from the start, he was on. The touch, the moves, the slalom dribbles, he pulled it straight out of the bag. You could literally feel how much this World Cup meant to him. And you can imagine what we were thinking.... It’s gonna be a long day." he added.

Lionel Messi is yet again leading his national side in the qualifications for the 2026 World Cup. As the defending champions, Argentina is currently leading the CONMEBOL table. While it's still uncertain whether Messi will participate in the upcoming tournament; he has expressed his desire to continue playing and has no immediate plans to retire.