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When it comes to stopping Lionel Messi, it’s no easy task.
However, there have been a few defenders who have managed to work together and prevent the world’s greatest player from scoring.
Whether it was luck or their own exceptional skills, these players and teams were able to contain Messi on at least one occasion.
Even Messi himself would look back at these games and acknowledge that there was little more he could have done.
5 Big Shots Who Pocketed Messi
While this list may not include every instance, here are five notable occasions when players successfully pocketed the little magician, both in club and international matches.
Esteban Cambiasso/Javier Zanetti – Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan, UEFA Champions League 2010
In a memorable match from the UEFA Champions League in 2010, Inter Milan, led by Jose Mourinho, achieved a significant victory over Barcelona. Despite Barcelona’s narrow 1-0 win in the game, Inter Milan emerged as the victors with an aggregate score of 3-2 after the second leg. The match was intense and competitive, with Inter Milan being reduced to ten men in the 28th minute due to Thiago Motta’s red card. This forced Inter Milan to defend against Barcelona for over an hour with a numerical disadvantage. However, Inter Milan’s defense, led by Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, put up an exceptional performance, preventing Lionel Messi from making a significant impact on the game. Despite Messi’s attempts, he struggled to find opportunities to score and was largely kept at bay by Inter Milan’s solid defense. This victory was a sweet revenge for Mourinho and Inter Milan, as they eliminated Barcelona from the competition and advanced to the next stage.
Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2016
Diego Godin, known for his exceptional defensive skills, has proven to be a formidable opponent for many attackers, including Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Lionel Messi has had some success against Godin in the past, except when it comes to the UEFA Champions League. On two occasions, Barcelona has been eliminated from the competition by Atletico Madrid, largely due to their strong defensive performance led by Godin. In their encounter in 2016, Godin’s exceptional coordination and leadership resulted in Messi being contained and unable to have a shot on target. This exemplified Atletico’s solid defense, as Messi did not even have a single touch inside their box throughout the entire game. Barcelona would surely prefer to avoid facing Atletico in Europe in the future, considering their unfavorable record against them.
Adrien Rabiot – PSG 4-0 Barcelona, UEFA Champions League 2017
In the UEFA Champions League match between PSG and Barcelona in 2017, Adrien Rabiot played a crucial role in stopping Lionel Messi from making an impact on the game. Despite Barcelona’s strong front three of Neymar Jr, Luis Suarez, and Messi, PSG had a well-executed plan to neutralize their threat.
Barcelona’s tactics of playing out from the back backfired, as they ended up losing possession to PSG. When their initial plan didn’t work, they relied on Messi to create opportunities. However, Rabiot and his teammate Verratti were successful in shutting down Messi’s dribbling and passing options. They stuck to him closely, denying him the space and angles he usually exploits.
In the first half, the defenders did a commendable job in containing Messi. However, with limited service and support, Messi had to take on the role of creator as well. But Rabiot and Verratti effectively blocked any dribbling or forward passing channels for Messi to exploit, limiting his influence on the game.
Jose Bosingwa – Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea, UEFA Champions League 2009
In a crucial match against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League 2009, Jose Bosingwa, although not widely recognized as one of Chelsea’s greatest defenders, played a standout role. Barcelona’s attacking trio of Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, and Lionel Messi were known as one of the most formidable in the world at that time.
Prior to Chelsea’s visit, no team had been able to prevent Barcelona from scoring at the Camp Nou that season. However, Chelsea became the first team to achieve this feat, with Bosingwa assigned the task of containing Messi.
Bosingwa executed his job admirably, limiting Messi’s shooting opportunities and matching him for pace throughout the game. He gave the Argentinian star no room to maneuver.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – Argentina 0-4 Germany, 2010 World Cup
In the 2010 World Cup match between Argentina and Germany, Lionel Messi struggled to perform at his usual level. This was largely due to the strong organization and defensive efforts of the German midfield and defense, particularly Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, and Jerome Boateng. Argentina found it difficult to gain control of the game and create scoring opportunities, as the German team relentlessly attacked and limited Messi’s impact on the field. At the end of the game, Messi was visibly upset and even shed tears. It is worth noting that Diego Maradona was the coach of the Argentine team during this World Cup, and he resigned following their elimination from the tournament.
