“Roberto Carlos (51) recalled the first time he faced Lionel Messi (37, Inter Miami),” the British newspaper Tribuna reported on Saturday.
Messi emerged for FC Barcelona in the 2004-2005 season. At the age of 17, he made his official debut in an October 2004 home game against RCD Espanyol. Messi went on to make nine appearances that season, scoring one goal. In total, Messi played 238 minutes (8 games) across the UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, and La Liga that season. He scored 1 offensive points. That season, Barcelona won the Primera Liga and the Supercopa de España.
In the 2005-2006 season, when he turned 18, Messi began to show his talent. He scored six goals and two assists in 17 La Liga games (912 minutes), one goal and one assist in two Copa del Rey games (180 minutes), and one goal and two assists in six Champions League games (322 minutes). For the season as a whole, he scored eight goals and provided five assists in 25 games.
Messi’s growth hasn’t stopped.
His dribbling, passing, shooting, and everything else has gotten better with each passing year, culminating in his victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he became the best player of all time.
As reported by Tribuna, Real Madrid’s legendary flanker Roberto Carlos has recalled his first encounter with Messi.
“I saw him dribble past Fabio Cannavaro and me, 메이저사이트 knocking us over, and then after the game, I said to Cannavaro, ‘Oh my God, what is that, that’s Maradona,’” he told British outlet 90min.
“I was very lucky, because I didn’t have a lot of time left before I retired,” says Carlos. What would the next generation of defenders have done? I knew in my gut that they would have a really hard time facing Messi. I knew he was going to be the best player in the world,” he said.
“I’m happy that I have more matches watching him than playing against him,” he laughs.
Roberto Carlos faced Messi twice during his career. In the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 El Clasico seasons. In the first El Clasico, he lost 0-3, and in the second, he won 2-0.