I kicked him so hard but could not stop him — Ghanaian legend opens up on facing Lionel Messi

I kicked him so hard but could not stop him — Ghanaian legend opens up on facing Lionel Messi

Ifeanyi Ufomadu 15:30 - 15.11.2023

Bayern Munich legend Sammy Kuffuor has revealed how difficult his first encounter with Lionel Messi was.

Samuel Kuffour has opened up on his first-ever meeting with Lionel Messi while playing for Bayern Munich.

The game took place during pre-season in 2005 and the Ghanaian legend recalls it as a real nightmare.

Ahead of the game, Kuffour revealed that Samuel Eto'o pulled him aside to warn him, saying: 'This guy will kill everyone and he will become the best player on the planet"

Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi

Sammy Kuffour on facing Lionel Messi

"It was a final against Barcelona in pre-season and I had to play against Messi. He dribbled Bixente Lizarazu like 3000 times," he said on Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.

"Before the game, I was talking to Samuel (Eto'o) and he told me, Messi will kill everyone. Watch him out, he will become the best player in the world.

Lionel Messi

"Look, he dribbled everyone and when he got to me, he did his famous body swerve thing, I kicked him so hard and surprisingly he got up quickly and moved with the ball."

Kuffuor was a pivotal member of Bayern Munich's defense from 1993 to 2005, finally securing the UEFA Champions League in 2001.