In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand, former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro opened up about the challenge of facing Lionel Messi during their intense El Clásico encounters. Admitting that it is impossible to stop the Argentine superstar, Casemiro revealed his unique approach to defending him: staying silent and avoiding any physical provocation.
“When I faced Messi, I swear I tried not to talk too much or push him, because I didn’t want to anger him. You almost want to be friends with him: ‘Hello, here’s a taco… sorry.’ It’s impossible to stop him. I needed help,” Casemiro said with a laugh.
The Brazilian also reflected on the legendary midfield battles between Real Madrid and Barcelona, where he went up against the trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets. “It was a huge fight. At the time, the pressure was so intense that you couldn’t truly enjoy it; you just had to win. But looking back now, those are beautiful, unforgettable days.”
Casemiro didn’t stop there. He also praised his former teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. “Cristiano is all about ambition. Every match, no matter the opponent, he wanted to kill the game. He needed goals, goals, goals. That ambition is incredible. I love him because he brought me goals and trophies.”
When asked about Bale, Casemiro called him the most complete player aside from Ronaldo. “Bale could attack and defend, had great heading ability, speed, and strength. In the biggest moments, he always stepped up – two goals in the Champions League final against Liverpool, and another against Atlético. He’s a 100% final player.”
The interview also touched on the special dynamic between Messi and Ronaldo. “We are lucky to live in this era and witness both Messi and Ronaldo’s greatness. They pushed each other to achieve more. For me, it’s a dream and an honor to have seen the two best players in football history.”
Casemiro’s candid remarks offer a rare glimpse into the mindset of a defender tasked with containing one of the game’s greatest talents. His respect for Messi is evident, as is his admiration for the competitive fire that defined his generation of football.