Marcelo is a Real Madrid legend.

The Brazilian defender did not hesitate to admit the superiority of the Argentine superstar, who once gave him a “headache” on the pitch. When MC David Broncano commented that Messi was the best player in history, Marcelo immediately refuted.

“It’s impossible to say who is the best of all time, because there are so many other legends,” said Marcelo, but at the same time he has absolute respect for the former Barcelona captain.

“Messi is really amazing. I thought you were going to show videos of him dribbling past me (laughs). Honestly, I didn’t even see him move. It was so fast! I was helpless against him. But that’s okay, I was born in a place where dribbling is the most important thing, not being passed by the opponent,” Marcelo humorously recalled.

Despite having faced fierce opposition from Messi, the Brazilian defender still admits that it was a privilege to play in the same era as the Argentine superstar and Cristiano Ronaldo: “We are very lucky to have witnessed the era of both Cristiano and Messi.”

Marcelo also recalled the ruthless rivalry between the two superstars when they played for Real Madrid and Barcelona. He said: “Cristiano always believed he was the best. There were times when they had a breathtaking rivalry – one would score two goals, the other would score three… We saw it live and enjoyed every moment. But many people were so busy comparing that they forgot to enjoy watching them play.”

In addition, Marcelo also revealed that he still maintains a good relationship with some former Barcelona players. “I am very close to Piqué. He is straightforward and honest, which I like very much. I also have great respect for Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi… During Guardiola’s time, we tried to win the ball, but it was almost impossible,” Marcelo recalled.

Even though he has retired, Marcelo still carries the spirit of El Clasico, and the confrontations with Messi will certainly be unforgettable memories in his career.

The book “Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football” was first published in 2000. Although British, Winner admires Dutch football, and has written one of the most intellectual books on football ever written.