Wout Weghorst scored a superb free-kick at the 2022 World Cup (Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)

Wout Weghorst has opened up about his fight with Lionel Messi during the Netherlands’ loss to Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

Coming on as a late substitute, Weghorst bagged a brace as Holland came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the eventual champions and send their quarter-final clash to extra-time and penalties.

The striker’s second goal was particularly notable, coming from a clever free-kick with virtually the last kick of normal time.

But while the 30-year-old put away his spot kick, it was Messi’s side who won the shootout, before the two teams clashed on the pitch and in the tunnel following an extremely ill-tempered match, where a record number of yellow cards were shown.

It was widely reported that Weghorst had clashed with Messi and Sergio Aguero, with the Dutchman later explaining: ‘I wanted to shake his [Messi’s] hand after the match, but he smashed my hand away and didn’t want to speak with me.’

Weghorst has since returned to Besiktas, where he is on loan from Burnley, while Messi went onto lead Argentina to World Cup glory.

He scored in his first game back for the Turkish side on Wednesday, as they came from behind to win 4-2 against Sanliurfaspor, with former Everton and Tottenham flops Cenk Tosun and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou also getting on the scoresheet.

After the game, he was asked about his confrontation with Messi, and while he refused to go into great detail, said: ‘During a match, for me, everyone on the pitch is the same, doesn’t matter if I’m playing Messi or [Sanliurfaspor defender Abdulsamet] Burak.

‘I always fight with everything I have. I did that in that match as well. I had some moments with Messi. He was surprised at these moments, and he didn’t like it.

‘I don’t like to speak about other people. I have a lot of respect for him. I think he’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever had in football history.

Lionel Messi ended Argentina’s 36-year wait for a World Cup triumph (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

‘I wanted to show this respect after the match. But he wasn’t really open to that, he was still a little bit angry with me. But I see it as a big plus that he knows my name now!’

While the end result was naturally very disappointing, Weghorst still looks back with pride on Qatar 2022, adding: ‘The World Cup was the best three weeks of my football career.

‘I am happy to have this opportunity. It was something I’d dreamed of since childhood. It was a very good experience.

‘I still wonder how it would be. When I think of penalties, it will always be in my head. To be honest, I didn’t care who won the World Cup.’

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The two forwards clashed after the ill-tempered quarter-final.