'Leave him like that' - Real Madrid legend Marcelo explains what would bring the very best out of Barcelona icon Lionel Messi in epic Clasico clashes

Several managers and defenders have tried to find the answer to stopping Messi over a period of close to two decades but have failed to come up with a successful formula. During his stay at Barcelona, he was a nightmare for Real Madrid defenders and fans as the Argentine would more often than not find a way to score past them be it in a Champions League semifinal or a La Liga fixture.

After Fede Valverde honestly admitted that he doesn't know how to stop Messi, veteran left-back Marcelo, who had participated in numerous duels with the forward, revealed a strange strategy to stop him from hitting top gear.

Marcelo, while speaking to 'Charla Podcast' said, "Messi did not talk during the games and I tried not to talk to him because he was quiet. We always said that we should leave him like that, because if we decided to obstruct him, we would provoke him and then he would get angry, and if he was angry, he became more and more difficult to handle."

Throughout Messi's illustrious career with Barcelona, he participated in 45 matches against Real Madrid in several competitions such as La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. Messi showcased his extraordinary goal-scoring prowess by netting an impressive total of 26 goals, a Clasico record, which not only underscores his consistency as a prolific scorer but also highlights his knack for being a decisive force in crucial moments. Each goal contributed significantly to Barcelona's success in these key matchups, solidifying Messi's status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Messi will be in action with Argentina against Uruguay on November 16, followed by a marquee clash against Brazil five days later in two 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will travel to Cadiz on November 16 following the international break.