There’s several ways teams have tried to combat the talent of Lionel Messi, and one of them down the years has clearly been to foul the Barcelona and Argentina star, to try and put him off his game.
Felipe Melo has faced the magician on the pitch, and speaking to Argentine newspaper Clarin he wasn’t afraid to admit that he and teammates have resorted to sticking the boot in.
Now 36 years of age and Palmeiras captain, Melo explained: “He is a unique player. When the Brazilian team played against him we said: ‘We have to kick him once each, we have to rotate’.
“And I am not saying kicking him to break him, but a tactical foul, cut his rhythm, disturb him.”
Clarin quizzed him more on this, putting other options forward, and Melo gave the reasons for his stance: “It’s that I can’t say anything about Pelé because I didn’t see him play. And I have the memory of Maradona of the World Cup when they beat Brazil with Caniggia’s goal. People in Brazil also say that Zico is better than everyone, but the first time I saw him play was at his farewell, in the Maracana.
“So I can’t say that Pelé, Maradona or Zico are phenomenas for me. I saw Messi play and he is incredible. More than Cristiano Ronaldo because Cristiano can score 5 goals for you, but Messi scores those 5 goals and also makes goals for his teammates, so he is more complete.”
Those comments will go down well at Barcelona, as long as Messi has forgotten about the kicks.
