Barcelona Captain Ter Stegen Admits Clashes With Messi During Seven-Year Tenure

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has revealed that his relationship with Lionel Messi was complex, with the pair clashing several times during their seven years as teammates. Despite these disagreements, Ter Stegen emphasized that there was no lasting bad blood, describing Messi as a 'special character' who leads with quiet presence and plays with unparalleled lightness. Their time together included winning 13 trophies, including the memorable 2014-15 treble, but financial issues led to Messi's departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. Meanwhile, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently made a subtle criticism of Messi's attitude during his two-year stint at the French club, contrasting it with the current squad's work ethic that helped them reach the Champions League final. Al-Khelaifi praised the present PSG players for their dedication and implied a need to move on from the Galactico era that included Messi. Messi is now playing for Inter Miami and is expected to represent Argentina in the 2026 World Cup.