While many dared to question whether Lionel Messi could have played at the peak of his power in the Premier League, the legendary Argentina continued to prove those suspicious in the only way he knows how he knows by dominating the best aspects of Britain.
Whether they were Manchester United at Wembley in the 2009 Champions League Finals or most recently against Liverpool in the first leg of Barcelona’s Champions League quarterfinals, it was ultimately historically lost.
Top 6 of Lionel Messi vs England (via TransferMarkt) | game | the goal | assist |
|---|---|---|---|
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 scored 27 goals and created eight more goals. If doubt remained that he dominated the Premier League at a level he definitely never saw before, those numbers should end them entirely.
Like most European football, some of the best in the Premier League has been adored by Messi. Jamie Carrager said among those who have exhausted the finest for magical playmakers: “There were a lot of players who have thought about it in the past, but it’s going crazy to keep on doing what he’s done.
“To me, he is the best player we’ve ever played football, and when you see where they’re going, you can’t predict it.”
He often terrified British opposition, but he admitted that Messi was shocked by Premier League players making revenge, and that one player left Barcelona scared.
Messi: Lampard was one of the best players in the world.
Considering his record against Chelsea is the worst out of all the top six in the Premier League, Messi’s praise for the hero of Stamford Bridge should not be surprising. He took the time to single out Frank Lampard ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League tie in 2009, praised Midfield Great and admitted he was a “big threat.”
“I know they have a great team that includes the best players in Europe, but I especially admire Frank Lampard.
“It’s rare to have a midfield player who consistently scores so many goals at the top level. That’s something that needs to be noticed in two games. Certainly, Frank is a huge threat.”
The tie itself was on the bill, but it was another midfield legend that stole another midfield legend as Andres Iniesta made the final Barcelona winner into the net.
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Messi’s praise is still true. At the peak of his power, Lampard was one of the most dangerous midfielders around, and Messi had all the rights to fear the threats he often offered. Overall, Lampard scored 211 goals in 648 games for Chelsea.
