Trippier Reveals the Unique Agony of Defending Against Lionel Messi

Kieran Trippier has offered a candid assessment of what it takes to defend against Lionel Messi, drawing on years of direct duels with the Argentine icon following a training session at Wolverhampton Wanderers, his new club.

The 35-year-old right-back’s reflections arrive weeks after England’s crushing World Cup 2026 semi-final elimination at the hands of Argentina, a match that served as a stark reminder of Messi’s capacity to dismantle even the most resilient defensive structures.

For Trippier, the task of marking Messi presents a challenge distinct from any other opponent. The Argentine’s tendency to drift on the periphery of the action for extended periods—only to explosively alter the game’s trajectory in seconds—is precisely what makes him so exceptionally difficult to neutralize.

“He can walk for 60 minutes but then score a hat-trick. That’s his magic,” Trippier told The Guardian, encapsulating the unpredictable danger Messi presents even when he appears entirely disconnected from the flow of play.

Kieran Trippier battles for possession with Lionel Messi during a Tottenham vs. Barcelona clash. (Getty Images)

Trippier Credits Simeone’s Tactical Mastery

Trippier also leaned on his extensive experience confronting Messi during his tenure at Atlético Madrid under Diego Simeone, crediting his former manager’s tactical frameworks for successfully stifling the Argentine on numerous occasions.

“I’ve found myself in that scenario countless times with Simeone; I could cite 30 matches where he executed his plan perfectly and we prevailed. That’s classic Simeone—he’s a master of strategy and winning football matches. We were up against one of the greatest players in history, capable of changing everything in the blink of an eye,” he recalled of the Argentine coach.

A Rivalry Spanning Two Eras

Trippier’s history with Messi spans two distinct chapters of his career. He first crossed paths with the Argentine while at Tottenham, starting in Spurs’ 4-2 Champions League defeat to Barcelona at Wembley in October 2018—a night Messi crowned with a brace—before the sides renewed acquaintances in the return fixture at Camp Nou.

Those duels continued following Trippier’s move to Atlético Madrid, where he lined up against Messi repeatedly in LaLiga under Simeone’s guidance, contests he estimates numbered in the dozens.

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