The fear on the opponent’s faces when they are up against the Argentine icon Lionel Messi is talked about a lot across social media platforms. No wonder Messi’s presence on the field speaks a lot about his stardom in the soccer universe.
Similarly, a conversation between Virgil Van Dijk and his Dutch teammate Frenkie de Jong has gone viral where they seemed to be praising the former Barcelona superstar.
The incident takes us back to last year when the Netherlands played against Argentina in the Quarterfinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar. From Wout Weghorst’s incredible effort that led his team to a comeback from a 0-2 scoreline to Emiliano Martinez’s heroics in the penalty shoot-out, the match was nothing short of entertaining.
Van Dijk to Frenkie after 🇳🇱🇦🇷: “Messi is not normal… There is a secret inside him. How did he pass from there? All the ways were closed, even the vision…”
Frenkie to Van Dijk after 🇳🇱🇦🇷: “We faced the best in history of football. I will never see someone like him in my life.” pic.twitter.com/ffITmqz72L
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) December 9, 2023
However, Van Dijk and de Jong who ended up on the losing side, didn’t forget to praise Messi following the game. In a candid conversation between the two, they both acknowledged Messi’s brilliance in the field.
The Liverpool defender said, “Messi is not normal. There is a secret inside him. How did he pass from there? All the ways were closed, even the vision.”
To this, Frenkie who played alongside Messi during the Argentine’s final years replied back, stating, “We faced the best in history of football. I will never see someone like him in my life.”
The duo, who are pivotal members of their respective clubs, were never seen mentioning anything about the Portuguese International, Cristiano Ronaldo. This demonstrates how Messi’s mere presence on the pitch is enough to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents.
Frenkie de Jong’s regrets Barcelona missing out on Lionel Messi
During the summer transfer window of 2023, soccer fans were eagerly awaiting news of Lionel Messi’s next move after leaving Paris Saint Germain. Many were hopeful that he would return to Barcelona, his former team. However, to the disappointment of the Blaugrana fans, the Argentine superstar eventually signed with Inter Miami, a team in the MLS.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong was no exception. He voluntarily admitted that it was a shame that Barcelona could not reach a deal to reunite him with Lionel Messi.
Frenkie de Jong: “Messi coming back to Barcelona? I don’t know. I read a lot about it, but I don’t know. He is a fantastic player. It would be nice if he came back.” pic.twitter.com/aSxbQjuSP6
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) May 19, 2023
de Jong who spent two years playing alongside the Argentine between 2019 and 2021 stated, “I think every team would like to have Lionel there, because he makes a difference anytime, anywhere. It’s a shame he didn’t come to Barcelona. I would have liked him there, and would have found his return top-notch. We’ll now see who joins and who leaves.”
The reason Messi’s deal with Barcelona didn’t go through even after being heavily linked to his former club is simply because of the financial instability the Spanish side was going through at that time.