Every footballer, no matter how skilled, has that one opponent that seems impossible to overcome.
Just as every hero has an Achilles’ heel, the world’s top football players have teams they dread facing. Let’s take a look at 10 of the world’s best players and the teams they struggle against the most.
1. Lionel Messi – Uruguay
While Messi has dominated the world of football, he’s had a tough time against Uruguay. Known for their physical and relentless style, Uruguay has consistently challenged Messi on the international stage. In 2015, he admitted the difficulty of facing them, and his struggles continued through the years, even in a 2023 World Cup qualifier where Argentina fell to the Uruguayans.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – FC Porto
Surprisingly, Ronaldo’s biggest challenge has been against FC Porto, a team from his home country. Across eight meetings, Ronaldo has only won twice and scored just once. Porto knocked him out of the Champions League on two separate occasions, making them a particularly tough opponent for the Portuguese icon.
3. Bruno Fernandes – Liverpool
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes often struggles against Liverpool. Across 10 encounters, he’s only won three and managed just three goals with no assists. The difficulty of facing Liverpool was so notorious that pundits joked he might have intentionally taken a yellow card to avoid facing them at Anfield.
4. Trent Alexander-Arnold – Real Madrid
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has faced Real Madrid six times and hasn’t managed a single win, including two Champions League finals. His tough battles with Vinícius Jr. in these matches have often left him struggling defensively, making Real Madrid a nightmare matchup for the talented right-back.
5. Luka Modrić – Chelsea
Modrić, the Real Madrid legend, finds Chelsea to be his toughest opponent. Across 14 matches, he’s only managed three goal contributions and has lost to the London club nine times. Even after helping Madrid overcome Chelsea in a 2022 Champions League match, he admitted that Chelsea’s physicality makes them difficult to play against.
6. Cole Palmer – Liverpool
Young Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has a hard time breaking through against Liverpool. In five matches against the Reds, he has yet to register a goal or an assist. The pressure of facing Liverpool was evident in his most recent outing, where he appeared lost on the field and missed a key opportunity.
7. Vinícius Jr. – Manchester City
Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. has struggled against Manchester City, with only two wins and two goals in seven matches. His social media post in 2020, where he mentioned “1% chance, 99% faith” after a Champions League loss to City, highlighted his frustration facing the Premier League giants.
8. Kylian Mbappé – High-Pressing Teams
Mbappé, known for his lightning speed, finds himself at odds with teams that play a high defensive line. In a recent match against Barcelona, he was caught offside eight times, a record for a single La Liga game. High defensive lines have been particularly challenging for the French superstar, forcing him to adapt his game.
9. Erling Haaland – Real Madrid
Despite his impressive scoring record, Haaland has yet to find the net against Real Madrid. In four meetings, he has not managed a single goal or assist, often looking isolated and ineffective against their defense. Haaland’s struggles against Madrid are well-documented, and he has yet to shake his difficulties with the Spanish side.
10. Thibaut Courtois – Barcelona
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has had a tough time keeping Barcelona at bay. In 25 meetings, he has conceded 41 goals and only won seven times. Barcelona’s relentless attack has frequently overwhelmed Courtois, with several embarrassing goals against him, including two nutmegs by Messi in a single game in 2018.
These “Achilles’ heel” teams show that even the greatest footballers have their weak spots. Whether it’s due to defensive tactics, high-pressure gameplay, or individual player matchups, these teams have become a challenge for some of the best in the game.
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