Zinedine Zidane reveals his toughest ever opponent to Lionel Messi during fascinating chat between two legends

Zinedine Zidane revealed to Lionel Messi who his toughest opponent was in a fascinating chat which has the potential to break the internet.

The two legends were reunited for a video with Adidas, with the full 29 minute chat posted on YouTube.

Filmed in Miami, the two talked about a number of topics ranging from their family, scoring in a World Cup final and wearing the coveted No.10 shirt for their teams before swapping shirts at the end.

The two took turns to ask each other questions and one which Messi put to Zidane was about the player who he had the most difficult playing against.

The former Real Madrid player and manager was never overawed by anyone who he came up against and even destroyed Brazil in the World Cup when he was 34 and about to retire.

Yet there were two players who Zidane did not enjoy playing against. The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner praised AC Milan and Italy legend Paolo Maldini for how "smart" he was, while he also stressed that Lilian Thuram was not someone you wanted to face.

Zidane won the World Cup alongside the Frenchman, who also played alongside Messi for two seasons at Barcelona.

Zidane said: "The toughest player? Well, not the toughest player, but the hardest one was Paolo Maldini. Because he was very smart, intelligent on the field.

"And Thuram. He was tough. When he is on your team, you are happy. But if he is playing against you, you are not."

Messi didn't reveal his toughest opponent but he has previously singled out Pablo Maffeo, who now plays for Mallorca but was at Girona and Manchester City.

As per DAZN, Messi said: “Pablo Maffeo of Girona [was the toughest man-marker]. That was intense!

“I've never been one who complains. I think physical contact and kicks are part of the game."

Maffeo gave Messi a tough game back in 2017 and in an interesting twist of events, could now by his teammates as he is set to change international allegiance to Argentina.

Featured Image Credit: Adidas

Topics: Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Inter Miami

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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