Prior to entering his current venture of football management, Alessandro Nesta enjoyed a long and storied playing career that spanned over two decades. Spending his youth with Lazio, Nesta debuted for the club in 1993 and became a key part of the first team, remaining at the club for almost 10 years.
Nesta helped Lazio win the 1999/2000 Serie A title, alongside two Coppa Italia’s, a Cup Winners’ Cup, Super Cup and Supercoppa Italiana. Between 2000 and 2002, Nesta was annually recognised by the league as Serie A’s best defender, though eventual financial issues would force Lazio to sell the centre-back in 2002.
Joining AC Milan, Nesta was in his prime years, forming part of the club’s formidable defence alongside the likes of Paolo Maldini, Jaap Stam and Cafu. The Italian international won his first of two Champions League titles with the Rossoneri in his debut season, going on to win Serie A in the following campaign.
Nesta spent a full decade in Milan, winning another Serie A title in that time alongside numerous other cups. The defender, who was also part of Italy’s World Cup-winning team in 2006, enjoyed brief stints with Montreal Impact and Indian side Chennaiyin before retiring in 2014, moving into management the following year.
An exceptionally talented defender, Nesta faced off against some of football’s greatest-ever talents throughout his career. In 2021, speaking to Calciatori Brutti via GOAL, the legend revealed which opponent was too tough for even him to handle.
‘He Mentally Destroyed Me’
Lionel Messi Barcelona
In the 2011/12 campaign, Nesta’s last as an AC Milan player, the defender was 37 years old. Making over 20 appearances for the club in all competitions, Nesta was still a valued part of the squad but naturally, given his age, was not at the peak of his powers. Regardless, the defender was trusted to start in competitions like the Champions League.
The year 2012 saw Lionel Messi score a staggering 91 goals under Pep Guardiola’s guidance as part of a Barcelona team that were the best side on the planet at the time. Milan faced off against Barcelona on the continent and whilst reflecting on one of these encounters, Nesta said:
"In the tenth minute I kicked Messi and fell to the ground exhausted, I could see the stars. He was already giving me his hand to pull me up. There he mentally destroyed me. Do you understand? I was on the ground and when after two seconds I open my eyes, I see his face with his hand in front that he wanted to help me get up. He mentally destroyed me there."
Nesta perhaps used this experience as an indication that his time in European football was at an end, given he would depart for the MLS in 2012. Despite Messi’s form at the time, Barca were unsuccessful in winning the 2011/12 Champions League, with Chelsea going on to beat Bayern Munich in the final.
A record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, there is no shame in struggling to cope with Messi, particularly in the early 2010s. If anything, it is a testament to the Argentine for such a defensive icon to view him as such a threatening opponent.