Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) dribbles between England’s Anthony Gordon (18) and Harry Kane (9) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Lynn Sladky)
FIFA World Cup: Every plan to stop Messi has failed. Spain has suffered another blow
Years later, it’s a regret for veteran Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. He could not stop Lionel Messi in the Champions League final, neither in 2009 nor in 2011. “You want centre-backs who are ready to drop in just above Messi and not worry about what’s going on behind them,” he later wrote in his autobiography. “He’s less of a threat than in the middle. The next time we play Barcelona in the Champions League final, I won’t let him bully us again,” he wrote. (read more)