Lionel Messi was left utterly stunned by an exchange with the son of his former teammate after Argentina’s win over Iceland in their final World Cup warm-up match.
The 38-year-old icon, who scored from the penalty spot in the friendly, shook hands with Icelandic players after the final whistle. One player, Daniel Gudjohnsen, came up to him for an embrace and traded a few words with the Barcelona great.
Messi appeared surprised by what was being said as he continued to chat to the Iceland international while shaking hands with others. It is likely the conversation was about Gudjohnsen’s father, Eidur, who played alongside Messi during his formative years at Barcelona.
Messi and Gudjohnsen Sr, 47, spent three seasons together between 2006 and 2009, winning the Treble — La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League — under Pep Guardiola in the Icelandic striker’s final year at the club.
Fast forward nearly two decades and Messi is preparing to head to a record-equalling sixth World Cup. While his former teammate has been retired for 10 years, Eidur’s son Daniel, 20, is now a striker for Swedish club Malmo and an Iceland international with five caps.
Messi appeared thrilled to see the youngster as they chatted and hugged, sharing the pitch with a second generation of Gudjohnsen. Messi, like long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, will continue his run of appearing in every World Cup since 2006 when Argentina get their campaign underway against Algeria on Wednesday, June 17 (AEST).
Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup in Qatar and will now look to help his nation retain the Jules Rimet trophy. Only Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) have successfully defended the World Cup.
Alongside Algeria, Argentina have been drawn in Group J alongside Austria and Jordan. Argentina’s clash with Algeria is set to be Messi’s 200th international cap — a remarkable career that has featured 117 goals.
