🧤 Alexander Schlager, Austria’s goalkeeper who on Monday will have to stand between the posts to stop Lionel Messi in Dallas, fired up the buildup to the match in the most unexpected way: when the press asked him about the Argentine captain’s hat-trick against Algeria, the Salzburgo keeper replied without hesitation — “I’m Team Cristiano Ronaldo” — and sparked laughter in the official FIFA press room. 😂⚽
What followed was even better: his own teammates contradicted him one by one. Konrad Laimer chose Messi by instinct. Michael Gregoritsch was the most direct of all: “Since the last World Cup, it’s no longer a question for me. The man is unfair.” And Xaver Schlager didn’t need to hesitate: “He has God-given talent.” The goalkeeper himself ended up softening the provocation and admitted that Messi has “an incredible presence” and that it would be “disrespectful to say anything against him.” 🔥
Argentina and Austria face off this Monday from 14:00 (Argentina time) in Dallas, in the second matchday of Group J at the 2026 World Cup. Messi comes in with three goals and level with Klose as the all-time top scorer in World Cups. Schlager will have to back up his words with his hands. 🇦🇷🇦🇹