Don't man-mark Messi, warns ex-England star Walker after painful encounters

Former England international Kyle Walker has strongly advised against employing a man-marking strategy against Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi, drawing from his own difficult encounters with the legendary forward. Walker, who has faced Messi multiple times, including in the Champions League, believes that such a defensive approach is not only ineffective but could potentially backfire.

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If I knew how to stop Messi, I would probably be the greatest coach in history, because many have tried and all have failed.

"If I knew how to stop Messi, I would probably be the greatest coach in history, because many have tried and all have failed," Walker stated, highlighting the immense challenge Messi poses. He described how Messi can appear to be casually walking on the field, only to suddenly explode with skill, demonstrating a level of ball control that is "on another level."

Recalling a Champions League match while playing for Manchester City against Paris Saint-Germain, Walker detailed how his team had successfully contained Messi for the first 70 minutes. However, Messi then produced a moment of brilliance, perfectly linking up with Kylian Mbappé to score, leaving Walker in awe. "You put all your effort into stopping him, and he still sends the ball into the top corner. That's why he might be the greatest player of all time," Walker reflected.

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The ability he shows when he has the ball is truly on another level.

When asked about the prospect of man-marking Messi, Walker admitted he wouldn't mind the personal challenge but doubted its efficacy. He suggested that Messi might interpret close marking as a personal challenge, aiming to prove that he cannot be stopped. Walker's advice is clear: "My advice is, never provoke him."

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You put all your effort into stopping him, and he still sends the ball into the top corner. That's why he might be the greatest player of all time.

Despite acknowledging Messi's unparalleled threat, Walker remains confident in England's chances in their upcoming World Cup semi-final against Argentina. He believes England possesses the strength to make Argentina worry about them, rather than solely focusing on containing Messi and other key Argentinian players. Walker expressed his full support for the England team, hoping they can finally overcome the final hurdle and win the championship.

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I don't mind, but I don't think close marking will be effective, because he might take it as a personal challenge and want to prove to everyone that you can't stop him. My advice is, never provoke him.