I played against Diego Maradona and Ronaldo – but was lucky to avoid facing Barcelona legend Lionel Messi
Paolo Maldini pocketed football's elite attackers during his career - but has revealed he's lucky he didn't have to defend against Lionel Messi.
The Italian football legend, who spent his entire career at AC Milan, was an iconic figure among football fans of his generation.
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Maldini - capable of playing as a centre-back or left-back - made a whopping 902 appearances over a glittering 25-year career with the Rossoneri.
As the world’s best talent flocked to Serie A in the 1990s and early 2000s, Maldini was taken to his limits by stars such as Brazilian pair Ronaldo and Ronaldinho as well as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero.
However, Maldini was more than a match for his star-studded opponents with the Brazilian duo naming the Italian as the toughest defender they had faced in their careers.
Maldini previously named ‘R9’ as one of the three greatest players he has seen in his career alongside Messi and Diego Maradona.
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The 56-year-old did not come up against Messi during his career, but that didn’t stop Maldini showing his appreciation for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
He said: “First of all, I have had the chance to play against great, great players and I think the best ones were, of course, Maradona when he played for Napoli and Ronaldo when he played for Inter."
He continued: "I didn’t play against Messi because he was injured, thank God he was injured."
When a reporter later claimed that Messi was lucky to have never come up against Maldini, he responded: "No, no, I was lucky."
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Maldini also played against Cristiano Ronaldo on multiple occasions when Milan and Manchester United went head-to-head in the Champions League.
Despite never facing Messi, the Italian was in no doubt who was the superior of the two players.
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He stated: “I know Messi very well and I know Ronaldo very well, who have between them won the Ballon d’Or for the past ten years.
“Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? In my opinion, Messi might edge it, but Ronaldo is also a top player and a strong individual. But I prefer Messi.”
Maldini took up the role of AC Milan Technical director in 2018, working alongside former teammate Leonardo.
In 2020, he tried to lure Messi to the San Siro after hearing city rivals Inter were plotting a move for the Argentine, but his efforts were rebuffed.
“When I read that Messi could go to Inter, I was furious," Maldini explained.
"For ten days I tried to bring him to Milan, but then we realised that it was impossible.
"I think a player like him is a show for everyone, even if it's late. This man is capable of doing things that always surprise."
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