Whilst many dared to question whether Lionel Messi would have been able to perform at the peak of his powers in the Premier League, the legendary Argentine continued to prove those doubters wrong in the only way he knows how – by dominating England’s best sides.
Whether it was Manchester United at Wembley in the 2009 Champions League final or, more recently, against Liverpool in the first-leg of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final tie – which they eventually lost in historic fashion – Messi has proven time and time again that a cold, rainy night in Stoke would be no problem for a man of his talents.
|
Lionel Messi vs England’s top six (via Transfermarkt) |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Manchester City |
8 |
7 |
3 |
|
Arsenal |
6 |
9 |
2 |
|
Manchester United |
6 |
4 |
0 |
|
Liverpool |
4 |
2 |
0 |
|
Chelsea |
10 |
3 |
3 |
|
Tottenham Hotspur |
2 |
2 |
0 |
In 36 games against England’s top six, Messi has scored 27 goals and created another eight. If there were any remaining doubts that he would have dominated the Premier League at a level arguably never seen before, then those numbers should bring those to an end once and for all.
Like most around European football, some of the Premier League’s best have often been in awe of Messi. Jamie Carragher, among those running out of superlatives for the magical playmaker, said: “There have been so many players we’ve thought that about in the past, but to go on and do what he’s done, it’s crazy.
“For me, he’s the best player we’ve ever seen play football. And you can’t predict that of any 19, 20-year-old when you’re looking at where they’re going to go.”
Whilst he has often terrorised English opposition, there has been occasions when Messi has been shocked by Premier League players taking their revenge, and he admitted that one player left Barcelona fearful.
Messi: Lampard was one of the best players in the world
Given that his record against Chelsea out of all of the Premier League’s top six is the worst, Messi’s praise for a Stamford Bridge hero should come as no surprise. He took the time to single out Frank Lampard ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League tie against the Blues in 2009, admitting that he admires the midfield great and that he was a “big threat”.
“We know they have a great squad that contains some of the best players in Europe, but I particularly admire Frank Lampard.
“To have a midfield player who consistently scores so many goals at the top level is a rare thing. It is something we need to look out for in the two matches. For sure, Frank is a big threat.”
The tie itself lived up to the billing, but it was another midfield legend who stole the headlines as Andres Iniesta netted a last-gasp winner for Barcelona to take his side into the Champions League final.
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Messi’s praise still rings true, however. At the peak of his powers, Lampard was one of the most dangerous midfielders around and Messi had every right to be fearful of the threat that he often provided. All in all, Lampard scored 211 goals in 648 games for Chelsea.
