Messi: The Only Defender Who Used to Stop Argentine Star During Training is Named

• It usually takes more than one man to stop Lionel Messi
• One defender always found it easy to stop the Argentine
• Messi is globally recognised as the greatest football star

Lionel Messi is universally recognised as the finest player ever to grace the world of sports.

Throughout his illustrious career, both for club and country, the Argentine maestro has amassed an impressive tally of goals and secured numerous team and individual titles.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, known for his versatility in the attacking third, excels as both a prolific goal-scorer and a creative genius.

In his prime, Messi exhibited lightning-quick dribbling skills, effortlessly penetrating the most stubborn defences.

While his pace has somewhat diminished in recent years, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner still possesses the capacity to influence matches through various means.

Throughout the years, the Barcelona legend has epitomised enduring brilliance and unwavering consistency.

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However, there have been a few instances where players have managed to outshine the Argentine legend. One such player is a defender from his former club.

The defender who stopped Messi

According to former Barcelona striker, Luis Suarez, per Barca Universal, his national teammate - Ronald Araujo -used to successfully thwart Messi during training sessions.

"I’m very happy with the level Araujo has [shown] all season with Barça. I always trusted him. I remember him being 20 years old and stopping Leo [Messi] in training. That kid is a wall."

The defender, who made the move to Barcelona from Uruguayan club, Boston River in 2018, has firmly established himself as a stalwart of La Blaugrana during the past two seasons.

Throughout the 2022/23 season, Araujo appeared in 22 matches and accumulated an impressive 1,802 minutes on the pitch, Soccerway reports.

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Sports Brief has also reported on Messi reflecting on his PSG years, which culminated in an uncermonious exit from the Ligue 1 champs.

Now with Inter Miami in MLS, the Argentine spoke about his time with the Parisians after winning his eighth Ballon d'Or on October 30.