Casemiro Admits Lionel Messi Was Unstoppable, Praises Both Messi and Ronaldo

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has made candid admissions about how challenging it was for him to tackle Lionel Messi. The Brazilian star, who had numerous on-field encounters with the former Barcelona icon during his time at Real Madrid, called Messi one of the greatest players in football history. Casemiro, known for his defensive ability, shared insights into his experiences facing Messi while also acknowledging Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary status in the game.

The two footballers frequently crossed paths during their time in La Liga, with Messi being the focal point of Barcelona’s attack. Speaking to Diario AS, Casemiro reflected on his struggles against the Argentine maestro.

"I could never stop him on my own," he admitted. "It was impossible."

Casemiro emphasized that to contain Messi, he required the assistance of his midfield partners Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, along with legendary defender Sergio Ramos. The Brazilian recalled how Messi’s brilliance often left defenders helpless, highlighting the sheer dominance of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

During Messi’s tenure in European club football, he registered 26 goals and 14 assists against Real Madrid, securing 20 victories in 47 matches. Casemiro acknowledged how the Argentine forward repeatedly proved to be a nightmare for defenders.

"I needed help from Kroos, Modric, Ramos… but just me, impossible. He was unstoppable," Casemiro reiterated. "It's difficult to explain."

Despite his praise for Messi, Casemiro did not shy away from recognizing the greatness of Cristiano Ronaldo, his former teammate at both Real Madrid and Manchester United. He stated that both Messi and Ronaldo were footballing icons who transformed the sport with their extraordinary consistency and goal-scoring exploits.

"Messi was one of the best players in history, but we had another player, Cristiano Ronaldo. What they both did is unrepeatable. In my generation, the best were Cristiano and Messi. They did a lot for football and changed it," he added.

Casemiro further compared the duo’s impact on football to the revolutionary influence of Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka philosophy, which reshaped modern football tactics.

"Just like Guardiola changed football with tiki-taka, these two changed it too. Scoring 50 goals a season became something normal. These two players will stay in our memories forever," he concluded.