Last Updated:
Marcelo spoke about what it was like to face Lionel Messi while appearing on the Spanish TV program La Revuelta earlier this week.
Lionel Messi (L) vies with Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Marcelo (Picture credit: AFP)
Real Madrid legend Marcelo has confessed he wanted to hit Lionel Messi during heated El Clasico battles. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner often featured on the right wing of Barcelona’s attack in the last two decades. Being the team’s star left-back, Marcelo was tasked with marking Messi in those games.
The Brazilian recently spoke about what it was like to face the Argentine great while appearing on the Spanish TV program La Revuelta earlier this week. “The problem [with Messi] is that I wanted to hit him, but I couldn’t get him,” he jokingly suggested.
Marcelo called time on his illustrious career in early February this year. The Brazilian competed for 15 memorable years at the Santiago Bernabeu. He made 546 appearances for the Los Blancos, guiding them to six La Liga titles and five Champions League crowns.
Marcelo won a total of 25 trophies at the Spanish capital. His silverware count, however, could have been far greater were it not for Messi’s Barcelona. The Argentine tormented the Real defender regularly, posing Marcelo with plenty of challenges he would prefer to forget.
In the same show, Marcelo revealed that he had a lot of respect for Lionel Messi. “I appreciate him [Messi] a lot. He’s a crack, he’s incredible,” the Brazilian said. “I thought you were going to show me the videos in which he made a fool of me,” he added while laughing.
“I didn’t even see him pass me. He was very fast. But no problem, I was born in a place where dribbling is the best, not being dribbled,” Marcelo said.
Marcelo also discussed the intense rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when El Clasico reached its peak in the 2010s. “Cristiano thinks he’s better. There was a time when it was messed up because one scored two, so the other had to score three… We saw this live, and we enjoyed it very much. Many people want to compare but forget to enjoy this,” Marcelo concluded.
He further claimed to be lucky to have played in the same era as the two all-time greats.
While Marcelo is now enjoying retirement, Messi is still going strong in the MLS with Inter Miami. He helped the USA-based side break the points record last season while qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup. Ronaldo, on the other hand, is showing no signs of slowing down at 40.
Ronaldo continues to star for the Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr.
