Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has said Barcelona star Leo Messi was the opponent he feared most.
The former Los Blancos captain ended a 25-year association with the club this summer when he joined Porto. But during his time with the Santiago Bernabeu side he came up against the world’s best players on a regular basis.
Speaking to UEFA’s Facebook account, the 34-year-old said Messi was the one who struck the most fear in him.
“Messi [was my most difficult opponent], always Messi. I played against him many times,” Casillas said.
He was also asked about his favourite saves over the years and picked out two match winning stops in the Champions League and World Cup finals.
“The saves I made against Bayer Leverkusen [in the Champions League final in 2002] and the one in the World Cup final [in 2010] to deny Arjen Robben [are my favourites]. “You need to be mentally very strong. Being a goalkeeper involves a lot of risk, courage and intelligence. I enjoyed being a goalkeeper since I was young because my father never wanted to play in that position when we played together! I don’t remember any [particular goal conceded] because I get very angry every single time I concede one,” he said.
Ike you’re not ashamed to say that you feared messi, I knew it b/4.