Former Premier League star Scott Arfield has recalled being left embarrassed after a piece of Lionel Messi magic bamboozled him and a teammate during a recent Leagues Cup match.
The Rangers hero experienced the Argentine icon's sublime genius first-hand when he attempted to tackle him during Charlotte FC's clash with Inter Miami. To compound a comprehensive 4-0 defeat, the World Cup winner inflicted further misery on two of the team's players as his quick thinking left them "cuddling each other" on the pitch.
Picking up the ball in his own half, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner left his two opponents for dead, with Arfield eventually crashing into his teammate. The 34-year-old midfielder has been able to see the funny side of the moment as he described how he was left chasing shadows by the legendary forward.
Arfield told The Athletic: "I tried to tackle him and he made me cuddle my team-mate - there’s context to that. I’d been running about trying to get a touch and he had been standing still.
"He just waits in pockets and then when he gets the ball, he can manipulate it at full speed. He can completely switch it on from 0 to 100."
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The Canadian international also reserved praise for Messi's teammates, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who also starred in the Leagues Cup match. The veteran admitted that Charlotte's players went onto the pitch with the objective to stop the supply lines to 37-year-old Messi but were simply unable to do so.
Of course, a lot of the ammunition for Messi has come from the ingenuity of midfield maestro Busquets' eye for a pass. Therefore, head coach Christian Lattanzio devised a plan to effectively try and subdue the deep-lying playmaker from pulling the strings.
Lionel Messi's quick-thinking left two opposition players for dead and they ran into each other (MLS)
The unfortunate duo were left chasing shadows and ran into each other after Lionel Messi's sidestep (MLS)Arfield explained: "Playing against Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba was incredible. Messi was sublime, Busquets phenomenal. Our game plan was to stop Busquets getting it as he averages the most passes to Messi, but he’s that intelligent he takes you into areas and opens it up for someone else."
However, their plans were to little avail, as the Herons turned on the style to dispatch their MLS rivals and reach the semi-finals. Naturally, Messi was able to get himself on the scoresheet as well - notching his side's fourth and final goal of the night to cap things off.
It is fair to say that Vice City's fortunes have been transformed since the arrival of their blockbuster summer signings. They are unbeaten in 11 outings since Messi's arrival and have already picked up silverware in the form of the Leagues Cup.
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