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Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk once reckoned Lionel Messi was the toughest player he had come up against. The 37-year-old Argentine is widely regarded as one of the best players to have stepped foot on a football field.
During his illustrious career spanning two decades, Messi has scored a staggering 843 times for club and country, a tally only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo (906). The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has won a record 46 titles with club and country, with two of them coming this year.
That includes Inter Miami's first Supporters' Shield - their second title overall - coming two months after Messi had won his fourth straight title with Argentina at the 2024 Copa America.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Van Dijk is one of the best in the world at his position. Since arriving at the Reds in January 2018, he has made over 250 appearances across competitions, registering an impressive 24 goals and 12 assists, winning every trophy on offer bar the UEFA Europa League.
One of the toughest defenders to dribble past, Van Dijk gave his take about Messi in April this year (as per AllFootballApp):
"There are some difficult strikers out there but probably Leo Messi (is the toughest)."
Messi was most recently in action for Argentina in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. In his first game for the defending world champions in two months since injuring his ankle in the 2024 Copa America final win over Columbia, Messi didn't score as La Albiceleste drew 1-1 at Venezuela.
How Lionel Messi has fared against Liverpool?
Lionel Messi - as mentioned earlier - is one of the best players and most prolific goalscorers ever. He has scored goals galore in some of the best competitions and against some of the top club and international teams.
However, he has had limited success against Liverpool. In four games against the Premier League leaders - all in the UEFA Champions League - Messi has scored twice.
After drawing blanks in his first two appearances against the Reds in the 2006-07 edition of the competition, the Argentine scored twice in the 3-0 first-leg win in the semi-final in 2018-19.
However, Barcelona spectacularly imploded in the return leg at Anfield, conceding four times without reply against a Reds team missing multiple key players, to bow out.
Messi's overall record against the Reds is two wins and two defeats, with the Argentine playing every minute of each game.
