In terms of all sports, Lionel Messi is among the greatest athletes of all time. Specifically in football, many rank him as the number one player in the history of the game.
At Barcelona, he won four Champions League titles and became their record goalscorer with 672 strikes in 778 games – a further 303 assists show just how well-rounded his game is. He then lifted the World Cup as Argentina captain in 2022, which helped him cement a record eighth Ballon d'Or win.
Evidently, very few opponents have been able to halt Messi on his path to glory, let alone cause him to even wobble. However, there was one Englishman who left a big impression on the iconic forward.
Surprisingly, though, it seems as though Messi rated the winger a lot more than many in Britain.
Messi Was Stunned By Theo Walcott's World Cup Snub
"I thought it was a bad decision
Ahead of the 2010 World Cup, Fabio Capello named his England squad for the tournament, and one notable omission made headlines. Despite having scored a hat-trick for the Three Lions vs Croatia in 2008, making him the youngest Englishman to do so for his country, Theo Walcott was not going to play in South Africa.
News made its way to Messi, who spoke openly about how shocked he was that the Arsenal star had been overlooked. Barcelona had faced the Gunners in the Champions League earlier that year and the speedy winger had caused the opposition all sorts of trouble.
Talking to the Daily Star, per Sky Sport, Messi criticised Capello for the decision to leave Walcott at home. After England were knocked out of the tournament at the Round of 16, he emphasised his point, calling the speedster one of the most dangerous players he'd faced:
"I must say that at the time I thought it was a bad decision to leave Theo Walcott at home.
"And I think that has been proved right. I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against.
He recalled how Walcott had frightened the legendary Barcelona team of 2009 to 2011, saying: "Barcelona players are not scared easily but I can tell you that when we played Arsenal last season, he truly worried us.
"When we were playing Arsenal at the Emirates we were so in control of the game at 2-0, with all respect Arsenal were not even in the game.
"Then Theo came on and changed the game. He pretty much single-handedly salvaged a draw against Barcelona that night."
Theo Walcott for England
Games
Goals
Assists
Steven Gerrard, Xavi and Rio Ferdinand. Related
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The Barcelona legend picked a very interesting XI with some surprising names included
Pep Guardiola, Xavi and Gerard Pique All Feared Walcott
"Even at the top level, pace scares the world's best defenders"
It seems Messi wasn't the only one who was concerned by Walcott as an opponent, with the Argentine revealing that manager Pep Guardiola and icons Xavi and Gerard Pique were all 'rattled' by the English winger. He said:
"Even in the return leg our manager Pep Guardiola was telling us he was the player to watch out for. And the best players in the world like Xavi and Gerard Pique were telling us to watch out for him. The truth is that he really rattled him.
"If he could do that against Barcelona, think what he could have done against Germany and Algeria. Even if he didn't start, he would still have been very important for England.
"Along with Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero he would have been the best impact player at the World Cup."
Messi added: "Even at the top level, pace scares the world's best defenders. And, take it from me, he would scare any defender.
"When England brought on players, I don't think they were at the level to make any impact. But Walcott would have been and I still can't understand why he wasn't taken."
"He is a big-game player as well who rises to the occasion. He scored a hat-trick in Croatia, which nobody ever does and was the star against Barcelona."
Stats via Transfermarkt