When teenage Messi BULLIED Mourinho's Prime Chelsea

Lionel Messi's performance against Chelsea in the 2006 Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge was a defining moment in the young Argentine’s career. A teenage Messi, who had already begun to turn heads with his prodigious talent, was now set to showcase his abilities on the international stage against José Mourinho's Chelsea, a team in the midst of their golden era. Tasked with containing Messi on the right wing, Chelsea deployed Asier Del Horno, but it quickly became apparent that this was a futile strategy. Messi toyed with Del Horno, dancing past him with ease and making it clear that taking the ball from him was a near-impossible task. Frustrated and out of options, Del Horno resorted to a series of increasingly desperate and harsh tackles on Messi, who displayed remarkable resilience despite the constant rough treatment. The pressure eventually led to Del Horno's dismissal after a reckless foul on Messi, leaving Chelsea with ten men and more space for Barcelona's attack to exploit.

With Chelsea down a man, Messi became even more of a menace. He dominated the right flank, weaving through defenders with his dribbling, creating chances with his passing, and testing Petr Čech with his shots. His most memorable attempt saw the ball strike the post, leaving Čech rooted to the spot, helpless to intervene. Throughout the match, Messi's brilliance was undeniable, as he repeatedly tormented Chelsea's defenders, including the usually unflappable Claude Makélélé. As the final whistle blew, Barcelona emerged with a 2-1 victory in the first leg, and the world’s attention was firmly fixed on the teenage sensation who had taken the game by storm. British commentator Andy Gray’s words seemed prophetic as he remarked, "When he [Messi] learns the game a bit more, he will be unplayable at times," a prediction that would soon prove true as Messi’s star continued to rise.
---
Subscribe if you enjoy the content! It helps me create more videos!
https://bit.ly/4f8jBsE
---
Subsribe to my back-up channel in case this gets cancelled!
https://bit.ly/4bPoJPp