Messi 'mentally destroyed' Nesta but PSG star could not help but admire legend

Don't worry, though, even elite defenders feel the same and Italy legend Alessandro Nesta revealed the Argentine ace left him seeing stars after just 10 minutes against him.

Usually most players only have to think about facing Messi twice a year, too.

Not poor Nesta, though, back in the 2011/12 season he had to face him FOUR times in the Champions League.

He might have won pretty much everything in the game, including the World Cup, but facing the spritely forward at the age of 35, will have been daunting for him.

And on reflection, he revealed even the greatest have nightmares against Messi.

Referring to one of the four clashes, which saw two Barcelona wins and two draws in the group stage and then the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Nesta said: "In the tenth minute I kicked Messi and fell to the ground exhausted, I could see the stars.

"He was already giving me his hand to pull me up. There he mentally destroyed me.

"Do you understand? I was on the ground and when after two seconds I open my eyes, I see his face with his hand in front that he wanted to help me get up. He mentally destroyed me there."

Across the four games, Messi managed to score three of Barcelona's eight goals, while also assisting twice.

Even so, Messi's admiration for Nesta was still clear.

In the very first encounter between the two players, a 2-2 draw on September 13, 2011, Messi wasn't able to score and one of the main reasons was Nesta, who was in imperious form.

With Barcelona 2-1 up against Milan, the Argentine wanted to inflict further damage, but his Italian opponent was not having any of it.

An all too familiar dribble from the right wing towards the centre of the penalty area saw Messi desperately hoping to unleash a left-foot shot on goal.

His rival saw him glide all the way across the pitch and while on two occasions he looked set to launch into a challenge too early, Nesta eventually unleashed a perfectly timed block.

Messi pounded the Camp Nou turf with both fists, such was his frustration.

And then seconds later, the Argentine leapt into the air and looked set for a rare header on goal. Not on Nesta's watch, though.

The Italian nicked the cross off his head and a despairing Messi could only turn round and offer his foe a wry smile. Annoyed but still able to appreciate his 35-year-old opponent's class.

And current Chelsea star Thiago Silva would level the scores in injury time to leave the Argentine truly frustrated in their first encounter of the four.

Although, in the end, Messi would have the last laugh as Barcelona made it to the semi-finals of the competition at Milan's expense.

Nesta would never play him again and the Italian, it's fair to say, was glad about that.