[ad_1]
Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand recalled how Lionel Messi and Barcelona turned their team around in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.
In what was the second final between United and Barça in three seasons, Messi scored when Barça beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s team in what many claim to be one of the most comprehensive final performances in recent memory.
Messi was at the center of that, and just as he had done in the 2009 final in Rome, he found the net to cap an outstanding display that stunned defenders of Ferdinand and United.
“Messi was a murderer,” Ferdinand told West Ham star Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Mason Mount when asked who was the best player he had faced during an interview for the Copa90 YouTube channel.
(Image: Action Images)
“Ronaldinho was unreal, a free-flowing wizard. But with Messi, he would do all that, but there was always a goal or help at the end.”
After Pedro and Wayne Rooney exchanged goals in the first half, Messi and David Villa’s blows secured a 3-1 win for Pep Guardiola’s team at Wembley, following their 2-0 victory over United in Rome. two years before.
(Image: Action Images)
Ferdinand previously claimed that the Barça team was the best to play, and said he was forced to admit Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes after Wembley’s defeat.
“Barça, they gave us an absolute lesson at Wembley,” he continued.
“I was standing there watching them lift the trophy and I, Giggsy and Scholesy were standing together with our hands over our mouths and I said, ‘I feel embarrassed boys.’
“He [Messi] he took liberties. “
[ad_2]
