Iker Casillas has revealed that Lionel Messi is his toughest-ever opponent after reflecting on the highlights of his Real Madrid and Spain career.
The goalkeeper also spoke of his awe for ex-Blancos teammate Zinedine Zidane, whom he claims to be his greatest teammate, his performances in the 2002 Champions League final and 2010 World Cup final and how he was coerced into becoming a custodian.
“The most difficult opponent I’ve ever faced is Messi. I’ve played against him many times,” he said in a Q&A session for Porto on social media.
“[On his best teammate], Zinedine Zidane. I loved watching him play.
“[On the 2002 Champions League final], I only played for a few minutes, but I think I did okay!
“[On stopping Arjen Robben one-on-one in the 2010 World Cup final], you have to be mentally strong as a goalkeeper. It involves a lot of risk, courage and intelligence.
“When I played with my father as a child, he never wanted to go in goal.”