MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 21:17:14| >> :60:112:112:

Rio Ferdinand: 'Lionel Messi made me feel embarrassed'

Rio Ferdinand: 'Lionel Messi made me feel embarrassed'
© Reuters
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand names Barcelona's Lionel Messi as the best player he has ever faced, admitting that the Argentine left him feeling "embarrassed".

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he was left feeling "embarrassed" by Lionel Messi following the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.

United faced Barcelona in the Champions League final twice in the space of three years from 2009 to 2011, with Messi scoring on both occasions as the Spanish giants came out on top.

Ferdinand has now identified the Argentine as the best player he ever faced, and revealed that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner's performance left him and fellow United legends Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes feeling embarrassed.

When asked who his toughest ever opponent was, Ferdinand told Copa90: "Messi was a killer. Ronaldinho was unreal, a free-flowing magician. But with Messi, he'd do all of that but there was always a goal or an assist at the end of it.

"Barca, they gave us an absolute lesson at Wembley. I was standing there watching them lift the trophy and me, Giggsy and Scholesy were standing together with our hands over our mouths and I said: 'I feel embarrassed lads'. He [Messi] took liberties."

Messi has won four Champions League titles in all, although the most recent of those was in 2015.

ID:396415: cacheID:396415:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2436:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand pictured in April 2019
Read Next:
Rio Ferdinand: 'I was close to Barcelona move'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!