Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Ryan Dabbs

'When Messi played out wide, he was easy to catch - I never had any issues playing against him': Manchester United legend opens up on playing against Argentine great

Manchester United Lionel Messi Patrice Evra Barcelona UEFA Champions League
BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 23: Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Manchester United holds off the challenge of Gianluca Zambrotta (C) and Lionel Messi (L) of Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, first leg match between Barcelona and Manchester United at the Camp Nou stadium on April 23, 2008 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images).

Manchester United came up against Lionel Messi four times between 2008 and 2011, winning just one of the games against the Argentine and Barcelona side he starred in.

For Patrice Evra, the Manchester United left-back during that period, marking Messi proved relatively comfortable in the first two of those meetings, during the 2008 Champions League semi-final. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
James Bond Drank About 53 U.S. Standard Drinks a Week, and Doctors Suspected a Tremor Behind His Shaken Martinis
Doctors tallied every drink in Ian Fleming's Bond novels and found 007 averaged 92 UK units a week, about 53 U.S. drinks, with a shaky martini theory.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Netflix’s Narnia trailer featuring Led Zeppelin divides fans as some brand it a ‘disgrace’
‘Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew’ is directed by ‘Barbie’ filmmaker Greta Gerwig and is set to be released next year
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Washington family’s Victorian doll Michael and its eerie dinner tradition
A Victorian doll named Michael occupies a unique place in Washington, DC’s history, not simply as an antique kept in a museum but as part of a family tradition shaped by superstition, grief and spiritualism. Displayed at the Heurich House Museum , Michael was reportedly seated at the dinner table…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Christian group tries to preach to women at Texas Roadhouse; the women respond with their own kind of blessing, leading to police intervention
They certainly weren't expecting that.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
SNL stars and alum weigh in on Shane Gillis’ sexist monologue
Gillis’s comments on the late night sketch comedy show have sparked intense backlash
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Claude Lalanne’s bronze monkey armchair with ostrich leather seat sold for $1.079 million
Sotheby’s auction in December 2025 saw the sale of a remarkable gilt-bronze armchair by Claude Lalanne, which captured attention with its elaborate vines and monkey embellishments. This particular design, created in 1998, was the pioneer among Lalanne’s 'Singerie' armchairs to attract a successful sale. The high demand for Lalanne's artistry…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play