Joleon Lescott is the latest guest to join Adebayo Akinfenwa on the Beast Mode On Podcast, with the former مانشستر سيتي defender reflecting on the moment Lionel Messi carried the ex-إنجلترا international on his back when برشلونة and City faced off in Europe in 2014.
The 42-year-old, who retired in 2017 having won two الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز titles and the FA Cup during his career, thought he could overpower the diminutive انتر Miami superstar when he came up against him in the دوري أبطال أوروبا last 16. That proved to be a grave mistake, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner leaving Lescott dumfounded as he shrugged off the challenge and ended up carrying his opponent on his back.
Scroll down to read more about that incident, as well as further insights into the former Everton and Wolves defender’s career. The full episode of the Best Mode On Podcast is available now, via YouTube and Spotify.
Joleon Lescott is the latest guest to join Adebayo Akinfenwa on the Beast Mode On Podcast, with the former Manchester City defender reflecting on the moment Lionel Messi carried the ex-England international on his back when Barcelona and City faced off in Europe in 2014.
The 42-year-old, who retired in 2017 having won two Premier League titles and the FA Cup during his career, thought he could overpower the diminutive Inter Miami superstar when he came up against him in the Champions League last 16. That proved to be a grave mistake, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner leaving Lescott dumfounded as he shrugged off the challenge and ended up carrying his opponent on his back.
Scroll down to read more about that incident, as well as further insights into the former Everton and Wolves defender’s career. The full episode of the Best Mode On Podcast is available now, via YouTube and Spotify.
Having played against both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi between 2006 and 2014, Lescott revealed who he feels is the GOAT of the modern era. He said: “I got [to play against] winger Ronaldo. So he was closer to Messi for that, because of his dribbling. But Messi… I’m going to say Messi. The game [that Lescott faced Messi in] was bigger, because I played against Ronaldo just in Premier League games. We had Champions League knockout stages against Messi. He was David Silva on steroids. You know there’s something that you do and it just seems so simple. He must see the game so slow, so clear. He must see every picture, of everyone… it must be that.”
Reflecting on that Champions League tie back in 2014, that Barcelona would win 4-1 on aggregate, Messi scoring two goals across both legs, Lescott said: “The first leg I’ve come on [as a substitute]. I’m thinking: ‘He’s better than me at everything… but he’s not stronger than me’. He’s going to have to hold something. I hit him, and I’m on his back. I’m like: ‘Oh… you’re strong!’ He literally dethroned me. From the thing I thought I had over him… I’ve got the picture, he’s literally holding me on his back, and he’s got the ball there. I’m thinking: ‘Jesus, you’re strong as well?!’ He’s Thanos!”
Lescott scored his only goal for England in the Three Lions’ Euro 2012 group-stage opener – a 1-1 draw with فرنسا. It was his tussle with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during that tournament, though, that Lescott remembers vividly. He recalled: “Nedum Onuoha, I would argue, is the strongest footballer I’ve come across. He phoned me after that game (England’s 3-2 win over السويد) and said: ‘He’s (Zlatan) done you there’. What happened was, the ball was going out for a corner, so he’s favourite to get there but he’s letting it go out. I’m trying one of my Jedi mind tricks and as he’s not looking, we’re jogging, he’s shielding the ball and I run up and I hit him. He then takes a step and thinks: ‘Nah’. And then, boom, I’m on one leg. That’s the only time in my career I went on one leg. And I’m like: ‘I could hit the deck here’. He’s massive. It’s the only time he sized me up. Zlatan was the strongest [I played against].”