According to a recent article on Goal, it was mentioned that Marcelo has admitted that Lionel Messi is “incredible” and the “toughest competitor” he has ever faced in his entire career. Throughout the annals of football history, a few rivalries have managed to captivate the hearts and minds of fans worldwide. One such rivalry, which has been consistently awe-inspiring, is that of Marcelo and Lionel Messi. Although they may have shared a deep-rooted mutual respect, the fierce competition between the two legends has been an integral part of modern football.
The Ageless Rivalry Between Marcelo and Lionel Messi
The Brazilian left-back, and the Argentine forward, have been synonymous with two of the biggest clubs in football: Real Madrid and Barcelona. Marcelo joined Los Blancos in 2007, while Messi was with Barca since his youth career graduating from La Masia before joining Paris Saint Germain in 2021. Their respective clubs had always been locked in a bitter rivalry, known as El Clásico, which only served to fuel the competition between the two.
The veteran Brazilian left-back played at Santiago Bernabeu for fifteen years before his career with the European Champions came to a close in 2022 when he bid farewell to Madrid as a free agent. While Marcelo was a rival of the Mercurial Argentine, he was also a team-mate of the all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo for nine memorable years, during which they shared some of the most beautiful moments in football history.
Why Does Cristiano Ronlado’s Closest Fan Deem Lionel Messi As His Biggest Competitor?
Marcelo is renowned for his exceptional ball control and defensive prowess, whereas Messi is famous for his unparalleled vision and goal-scoring ability. Their encounters on the pitch during the time they spent in Spain have often been a showcase of their respective talents.
Marcelo, as a left-back, had the unenviable task of trying to contain Messi, who is the greatest footballer of all time. In turn, Messi had to navigate his way past Marcelo, whose craftiness and determination made him one of the toughest defenders to beat.
While talking about his rivalry with the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Marcelo told the Athletic:
“Messi is incredible, the toughest opponent I’ve ever faced. We all know the quality he has even now, aged 35, and before it was the same. El Clasico has always been one of the best games to watch and play. I was lucky enough to have featured in one of the best eras of Clasicos.”
