--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's harder to defend against Lionel…" description: "\"It's harder to defend against Lionel Messi than Cristiano Ronaldo.\" — Thiago Silva" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/thiago-silva-6084_against_it-s-harder-to-defend-against-lionel-mes_3003842.jpg" --- # It's harder to defend against Lionel Messi than Cristiano… ![“It's harder to defend against Lionel Messi than Cristiano Ronaldo.” quote by Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/thiago-silva-6084_against_it-s-harder-to-defend-against-lionel-mes_3003842.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/thiago-silva-6084_against_it-s-harder-to-defend-against-lionel-mes_3003842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/thiago-silva-6084_against_it-s-harder-to-defend-against-lionel-mes_3003842.jpg) > “It's harder to defend against Lionel Messi than Cristiano Ronaldo.” [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defending Messi is more challenging than defending Ronaldo due to style and skill. **In simple terms:** Messi is harder to defend than Ronaldo. Key Takeaway Adapt tactics to each opponent’s unique strengths. Themes sports competition strategy Mood strategic reflective Type tactical inspirational When to use this quote - football match preparation - coaching - player scouting Key Concepts player analysis defensive tactics Questions to Reflect On - What defensive adjustments work best against Messi? - How does player style affect defensive planning? A Different Perspective Ronaldo’s physicality can also pose difficulties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [For example, computer defends well, but for humans its is harder to defend than attack, particularly with the modern time control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-spassky/for-example-computer-defends-well-but-for-humans-its-is-harder-to/) [Boris Spassky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-spassky/) > [I won the title with Arsenal in 2004 and it is harder to defend it the following season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/i-won-the-title-with-arsenal-in-2004-and-it-is-harder-to-defend-it/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [“It’s easier to hold onto a bad idea if you never share it, and it’s harder to defend one if you let it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/it-s-easier-to-hold-onto-a-bad-idea-if-you-never-share-it-and-it-s/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [Lionel Messi is very difficult to contain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/lionel-messi-is-very-difficult-to-contain/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez all play at a really impressive level and are consistently excellent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-zlatan-ibrahimovic-and-luis-suarez-all/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [I know I'm not a Lionel Messi or a Cristiano Ronaldo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/i-know-i-m-not-a-lionel-messi-or-a-cristiano-ronaldo/) [Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/) > [I think Ashley Young is world class, Id put him in a bracket with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-think-ashley-young-is-world-class-id-put-him-in-a-bracket-with/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [Lionel Messi is an excellent teammate, he's a fantastic guy. We lived through a lot together, a lot of games, a lot of goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/lionel-messi-is-an-excellent-teammate-he-s-a-fantastic-guy-we-lived/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [Nobody is perfect. Even Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo can sometimes look like players from League One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mousa-dembele/nobody-is-perfect-even-lionel-messi-or-cristiano-ronaldo-can/) [Mousa Dembele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mousa-dembele/) > [Lionel Messi is very much the team player, while Cristiano is very ego-driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-klinsmann/lionel-messi-is-very-much-the-team-player-while-cristiano-is-very-ego/) [Jurgen Klinsmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-klinsmann/) > [You know, I'd actually say Lionel Messi. He's so remarkable, watching him play he's probably still undervalued. When you're scoring five goals in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-beane/you-know-i-d-actually-say-lionel-messi-he-s-so-remarkable-watching/) [Billy Beane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-beane/) > [Lionel Messi is a wonderful player. Very skillful. Highly intelligent. He is not good in the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/lionel-messi-is-a-wonderful-player-very-skillful-highly-intelligent/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [Lionel Messi reminds me of George Best, the way he would run with the ball tight to his foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/lionel-messi-reminds-me-of-george-best-the-way-he-would-run-with-the/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [Lionel Messi is the best player ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/lionel-messi-is-the-best-player-ever/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [Unless I play like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, it'll be hard to give myself 100 out of 100.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/son-heung-min/unless-i-play-like-lionel-messi-or-cristiano-ronaldo-it-ll-be-hard-to/) [Son Heung-min](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/son-heung-min/) ## More by Thiago Silva > [I've overcome tuberculosis and my life was at risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/i-ve-overcome-tuberculosis-and-my-life-was-at-risk/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [To me, Messi, Neymar and Suarez are among the three best players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/to-me-messi-neymar-and-suarez-are-among-the-three-best-players-in-the/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [When you play against important teams, you obviously feel more motivated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/when-you-play-against-important-teams-you-obviously-feel-more/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [I remember I'd be playing in the streets with friends, sometimes barefooted. I'd come home with sore feet, but wanting to do the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/i-remember-i-d-be-playing-in-the-streets-with-friends-sometimes/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [We are professional footballers. 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