VIDEO: Iran's Nekounam calls dibs on Messi's shirt
Jed Leicester / Action Images
Soccer players frequently trade shirts after games as a gesture of mutual respect, but Iranian captain Javad Nekounam decided to jump the gun a little and ensure he leaves Saturday's game against Argentina with the ultimate prize: Lionel Messi's No. 10 shirt.
Before the game even began, Nekounam brokered a deal with Messi for a post-game shirt exchange. You can see the negotiations go down in the video below.
You can't really blame Nekounam. He may never play against a player the caliber of Messi again.
Messi seemed focused on the game and not really in the mood to discuss shirt trades, but there's a clear nod. In the world of dibs, that's legally binding.
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