German Midfielder Equates Playing Against Messi to Meeting the Pope

• Ex-German international Christoph Kramer reckons Argentine demigod Lionel Messi carries the same reverence as the Pope
• Kramer has played against Messi on three occasions but cherishes their meet-up in the 2014 FIFA World Cup the most
• He reveals he had so much respect for the PSG superstar he was unable to strike up a conversation with Messi

2014 World Cup winner Christoph Kramer has drawn similarities between playing against FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and meeting the Pope.

Kramer has squared off against Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi, who is regarded by many as the Greatest Footballer of Alltime, on a number of occasions.

And the Monchengladbach midfielder reckons his meet-up with Messi is almost similar to the Pope's reverence.

The 31-year-old defensive midfielder has crossed paths with Messi severally but the former Bayer Leverkusen has singled out their clash at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where Kramer's Germany edged Argentina in extra-time to win their fourth World title.

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"This will always be my WhatsApp profile picture, the best moment I've played football my whole career," Kramer told DAZN as quoted by GOAL, in reference to his on-field encounter with the Argentine. "Everyone wants to win a tackle against Messi, but nobody really manages to do it.

“I would have liked to have spoken with him, but I had too much respect to build up the conversation and I don’t know what language to speak!"

"I have to say - and I only had a feeling like that when I met the Pope - there's something awesome about him standing face-to-face."

How many times has Kramer met Messi?

The duo have crossed paths on three occasions.

Kramer played against the seven-time Ballon d'Or award winner in back-to-back seasons in the UEFA Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen, in 2015, and with Monchengladbach, in 2016, drawing one and losing the other.

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But the most iconic encounter remains the 2014 World Cup Final.

Ghanaian defender recounts how his waist turned after he played against Messi

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ghana international Gideon Mensah has shed light on how he was mesmerized by Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi in the French Ligue 1.

Mensah, who helped Ghana secure a World Cup berth at the expense of Nigeria, encountered the former FC Barcelona captain last month.

In the said fixture, Gideon was introduced into the game after 69 minutes by coach David Guion to shore up the Bordeaux defence.