Lionel Messi admits the footballer he never liked – 'I got angriest with him, we clashed'

Lionel Messi has revealed that he hated playing against Sergio Ramos because the pair would always clash. The Argentinian and the Spaniard played for rivalling La Liga sides for the most part of their careers – with Messi at Barcelona and Ramos at Real Madrid.

Over the years, the tricky winger and solid centre-half would become worst enemies through countless El Clasico games at the top tier of Spanish football. Speaking on the Willing For Everything podcast, Messi said: “I fought a lot with Sergio Ramos.

“He was the player I got the angriest with. Later we were team-mates, but we always clashed in the derbies, they were intense.”

The two would eventually put their rivalry aside when they were both signed by Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, sharing two years together and taking Ligue 1 by storm, lifting the divisional trophy for two years running alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe.

While Messi would say that he and Ramos didn’t always see eye to eye, the former Real Madrid captain – on the other hand – last year admitted that his former rival is the the greatest footballer of all time. Speaking to PSG TV, the 38-year-old said: “There was suffering for several years playing against Messi.

“I am now enjoying him. He is the best player football has ever produced.”

Ramos would return to his boyhood club of Sevilla in 2023 for one last dance in Spain, while Messi would sign for David Beckham’s Inter Miami the very same year. While Sergio would retire from international football last year, 37-year-old Messi is currently proving instrumental to Argentina’s Copa America hopes.

The skillful attacker has racked up 108 goals and 56 assists for his country thus far, finally lifting the World Cup for Argentina in 2022 on his fifth attempt. The South American’s currently lead Group A after a 2-0 win over Canada in their opening fixture.

Argentina play Chile on Wednesday, before facing Peru in their final game of the group stages on Sunday.