Lionel Messi didn't hesitate when naming the 'best atmosphere' he's ever played in during legendary career
Lionel Messi didn't hesitate when naming the 'best atmosphere' he's played in during his legendary career.
Messi has played for Barcelona, PSG and now Inter Miami during his career, and has featured in the biggest competitions in world football.
The 36-year-old is a three-time Champions League winner with Barcelona, and lifted the World Cup for the first time with his career with Argentina in 2022.
Messi has never played in the Premier League but has come up against a number of English sides, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
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He has played at both Old Trafford and Anfield, and experienced many El Clasico matches up against Real Madrid at Camp Nou and the Bernabeu.
But which is the 'best atmosphere' that Messi has, to date, ever played in?
The answer is in fact Scottish giants Celtic, who famously defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the group stages of the 2012/13 Champions League.
Barcelona dominated the contest in terms of ball possession - they had 83 per cent of the ball as well as 955 total passes - but goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt, as well as a star performance from goalkeeper Fraser Forster, secured an iconic win for Neil Lennon's side.
He said in 2020 (via Celtic's official website): "The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them. Celtic Park is a tough place to go to. It's never easy to get a result there.
"We knew we would get a tough game if we drew them in the Champions League, but everybody involved in those Barcelona vs Celtic games wants to go and play there again. It is the best atmosphere in Europe."
That night at Parkhead was the only time Celtic have beaten Barcelona in the Champions League, with one draw and eight defeats to their name.
They did, however, beat them in a UEFA Cup last 16 clash at Celtic Park in 2004 when Martin O'Neill was manager, eventually going through on aggregate before losing in the quarter-finals of the competition to Villarreal.
It turns out that Messi is not the only elite player that rates Celtic's home atmosphere highly.
Cristiano Ronaldo - who played in Manchester United's 1-0 loss to the current reigning Scottish Premiership champions in 2006 - said (also via Celtic's official website): "The Celtic fans are incredible. It is always great to play there."
Topics: Lionel Messi, Champions League, FC Barcelona
Ryan Smart