Marcelo: Real Madrid Legend Opens Up on What Happens When Lionel Messi Is “Very Angry”

• Marcelo has shed light on how to stop Lionel Messi from reaching peak performance
• Stopping Leo Messi has been the bane of many defenders but Marcelo has a unique strategy
• The former Brazilian international clashed with Messi on several occasions during his time with Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo Vieira has shared his firsthand experience regarding Lionel Messi's temperament when he's "very angry."

Marcelo, recently part of Fluminese's Copa Libertadores victory, believes it's wiser to keep Messi composed during games rather than provoke him.

Having crossed paths with the mercurial Argentine playmaker multiple times, Marcelo revealed an unconventional strategy to prevent Messi from hitting his peak performance.

Despite numerous attempts by managers and defenders over nearly two decades to find ways to thwart Messi, Marcelo proposed an unusual approach.

"Messi did not talk during games, and I tried not to talk to him either because he was quiet that way," Marcelo has told the media as cited by Tribuna.

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The former Brazil international suggested that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner elevates his game when provoked, leading him and his teammates to tread cautiously to prevent inciting that response.

"We [at Real Madrid] always said that we should leave him like that, because if you decide to obstruct him, you would provoke him and then he would get angry, and if he was angry, he became more and more difficult to handle," the Brazilian added.

Messi's performance against Marcelo's Real Madrid

During his incredible spell at Barcelona, Messi competed in 45 matches against Real Madrid in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

According to GOAL, his extraordinary scoring prowess shone through as he scored an impressive 26 goals, establishing a record in El Clasico encounters.

This not only highlighted his consistent scoring but also illustrated his capacity to be a game-changer in critical situations.

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Valverde reveals how to stop Messi

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Uruguay and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde shared his frank perspective on how to stop Lionel Messi.

Although Valverde only became a regular in the Real Madrid team during Messi's final years at Barcelona, they engaged in several on-pitch battles during El Clasico, including when Messi joined PSG.