In a striking revelation, Lionel Messi has named Chelsea—not Real Madrid—as the club that stirred the most animosity among his Barcelona teammates during their iconic Champions League battles. The Argentine legend, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, shed light on the fierce rivalry that defined some of the most unforgettable European nights of his career.
More hate than El Clasico?
While Real Madrid has traditionally been Barcelona’s fiercest rival, Messi pointed to Chelsea as the club that truly riled the Catalan dressing room.
"There are players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid. I never thought I would hear myself say that,” Messi said in an interview with News of the World, as reported by Sky Sports.
“I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil vs Argentina. But this is.”
This revelation may come as a shock to fans who have long viewed El Clasico as the pinnacle of football rivalries. But for Lionel Messi and his teammates, the bad blood with Chelsea ran deeper during their mid-2000s Champions League showdowns.
Bitter clashes and unforgettable encounters
The hostility between Barcelona and Chelsea came to a head during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 UEFA Champions League seasons. In 2005, Chelsea eliminated Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona in dramatic fashion with a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, securing a 5-4 aggregate win to progress to the quarter-finals.
The following season, fate paired the clubs once again in the Round of 16. This time, it was Barcelona who had the last laugh, mounting a resilient comeback in the second leg to secure a 2-1 win and knock Chelsea out. Rijkaard's side would go on to win the Champions League that season, defeating Arsenal in the final.
While Lionel Messi missed the final due to an injury sustained in the clash against Chelsea, his impact on the campaign and his memory of that rivalry remains vivid.
“We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea,” Messi added, highlighting just how personal and intense the rivalry became for the Blaugrana stars.
Chelsea: The true nemesis?
These comments reignite the conversation about football rivalries that transcend geography and domestic leagues. Lionel Messi’s rare insight into the emotional pulse of the Barcelona squad during those intense battles gives fans a deeper understanding of how rivalries are shaped not just by tradition, but by experience and emotion.
As the former Barcelona talisman enjoys the twilight of his career in MLS with Inter Miami, his reflections continue to offer a fascinating window into the high-stakes world of elite football.