Italian photographer Claudio Villa recounts a meeting between Gianluca Vialli and Leo Messi at Wembley Stadium before the Finalissima in June: ‘He was agitated.’
Vialli had been Italy’s delegation chief for more than two years and inspired Italy to win the Euros in the summer of 2021.
When the Azzurri played the ‘Finalissima’ against Argentina at Wembley this past June, he gifted an Italy shirt to Leo Messi, just before kick-off.
The brief meeting was recounted by Italian photographer Claudio Villa who was at the Stadium and helped the ex-striker stop Messi and hand him his gift.
“Gianluca wanted at all costs to deliver the number 10 shirt of the national team to Leo Messi, he was agitated and did not know how to do it because it is not easy to stop Leo before such an important game.
“I told Gianluca to remain quiet and wait for him in front of the tunnel because, after the warm-up, I would stop Messi to let him take the gift and a picture. That’s what happened. Vialli was happy, and so was I. I want to believe that this shirt, which Gianluca wanted to donate with all his heart, has contributed at least a little to make Leo Messi win the World Cup.”