Thomas Tuchel on Lionel Messi’s masterclass against England.
🗣️ “I’ve coached against some of the greatest footballers in history, but nights like this remind you why Lionel Messi is different. We prepared for him all week. We had plans, we had markers, we had instructions… and none of it was enough. He punished us with two moments of absolute genius.”
“You can stop him for 85 minutes, but Messi only needs five seconds to destroy everything you’ve built. That’s what happened tonight. Two assists, no panic, no wasted movement just pure football intelligence. He doesn’t force the game. He waits… and when you make one mistake, you’re dead.”
“I was shouting from the touchline because I knew the danger every time he received the ball. My players knew it too. Yet knowing what Messi is capable of and actually stopping him are two completely different things. He sees passes that nobody else in world football even imagines.”
“People talk about speed and strength. Messi doesn’t need either. His brain is faster than every defender on the pitch. He dictates the tempo, manipulates space and tears teams apart without looking like he’s trying. That is what true greatness looks like.”
“As painful as this defeat is for England, I refuse to lie. We were beaten by a footballer who continues to redefine the game at 39 years old. Two assists in a World Cup semi-final, carrying his country into another final… that’s not normal. That’s history unfolding in front of your eyes.”
“Sometimes, as a coach, you have to accept an uncomfortable truth. We didn’t just lose to Argentina we lost to Lionel Messi. And if he plays the final like he played tonight, the rest of the world should be very worried.”
🚨🎙️ England Captain Harry Kane after England’s loss:
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand what just happened out there, if I’m being honest. It’s really tough to take.
Our whole focus this past week was on stopping Lionel Messi. Every meeting, every session — it was all about limiting his impact. And in a way, you look at it and think we did… we stopped him from scoring.
But that’s the thing with him. Even at 39, it’s just unbelievable. You think you’ve done enough, and then he goes and produces two assists — two decisive moments that completely change the game. That’s the level he’s at.
To go from winning the game to losing it in the last seven minutes… it’s devastating. Absolutely devastating. We were in control, we were so close, and then it just turns like that.
The lads are hurting. We’re all disappointed because we know how big this was. But sometimes you come up against a player who can change everything in an instant… and tonight, that was the difference.”
🚨Jude Bellingham on Lionel Messi after England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
🎙️ Reporter: “Jude, you’ve just shared the pitch with Lionel Messi. What was that experience like?”
🗣️ Jude Bellingham:
“I have to say, at 39 or 40 years old, to still be playing at this level is simply exceptional.
People watch him on television and think they understand how good he is, but when you’re actually on the pitch against him, it’s completely different.
He’s so quick over the first few yards. You think you’ve got him, then he changes direction, glides away and suddenly he’s gone. It’s almost impossible to get close enough to make a clean challenge.
The way he controls the ball is honestly alien. It feels like it’s glued to his foot. Every touch has a purpose, every movement creates space and he always seems one step ahead of everyone else.
I’ve never seen a player at that age move with so much intelligence and composure. Most players slow down, but Messi has found another way to dominate games. He doesn’t waste energy—he controls the tempo.
If I respected Messi before tonight, I respect him even more now. Sharing the pitch with him only makes you appreciate how special he really is.
He’s one of those players you study growing up, and then when you finally play against him, you realise why people call him one of the greatest of all time. He’s an exceptional footballer, and I feel privileged to have experienced that firsthand.”
“Venimos de ser los mejores durante estos últimos cuatro años DUELA A QUIEN LE DUELA Y DIGAN LO QUE DIGAN. Otra vez demostramos que no es casualidad y nadie nos regaló nada”
Messi haciendo mierda a los que le bajan el precio a Argentina, lo amo
El domingo es el último partido de este muchacho, la final del mundo, contra España el país que lo vio crecer.
Ni el mejor guionista de cine podría escribir la historia futbolística de Lionel Andrés Messi. The GOAT 🐐🐐🐐
“Si bien era un partido de fútbol, ya desde el himno vivimos sensaciones especiales. NO ERA UNA VICTORIA MÁS, EL PUEBLO ARGENTINO LA QUERÍA”.
Ufff, las palabras de Lionel Messi. 🥹🇦🇷