Bayern Munich legend Sammy Kuffuor has revealed how difficult his first encounter with Lionel Messi was.
Samuel Kuffour has opened up on his first-ever meeting with Lionel Messi while playing for Bayern Munich.
The game took place during pre-season in 2005 and the Ghanaian legend recalls it as a real nightmare.
Ahead of the game, Kuffour revealed that Samuel Eto'o pulled him aside to warn him, saying: 'This guy will kill everyone and he will become the best player on the planet"
![Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/15112023/179ff0d9-e408-4b58-8f32-d3881911f236.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
Sammy Kuffour on facing Lionel Messi
"It was a final against Barcelona in pre-season and I had to play against Messi. He dribbled Bixente Lizarazu like 3000 times," he said on Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.
"Before the game, I was talking to Samuel (Eto'o) and he told me, Messi will kill everyone. Watch him out, he will become the best player in the world.
![Lionel Messi](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/15112023/00511c39-a4e6-4480-b62d-5c466089e66b.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
"Look, he dribbled everyone and when he got to me, he did his famous body swerve thing, I kicked him so hard and surprisingly he got up quickly and moved with the ball."
Kuffuor was a pivotal member of Bayern Munich's defense from 1993 to 2005, finally securing the UEFA Champions League in 2001.
15:38 - 29.07.2023