Former Spanish football star Roberto Jimenez has opened up about the challenges he faced when playing against Lionel Messi, admitting that it was much harder to stop the Argentine legend compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a recent appearance on the Los Fulanos podcast, Jimenez, a former goalkeeper, described Messi as a "nightmare" to defend against. He recalled that, during their seven encounters, Messi scored an impressive 13 goals against him, making him nearly unstoppable on the pitch.

"I could never stop Messi," Jimenez confessed. "Whenever he came close, he scored. Cristiano plays differently and gives you more chances to stop him, so it feels more like a challenge. But Messi was just relentless."

Jimenez shared that, despite facing numerous top-tier players, he regretted never asking Messi for his shirt. While he collected jerseys from other football greats and friends, Messi's dominance on the field made it feel impossible to request his.

"I never wanted Messi’s shirt because he always humiliated me," Jimenez said. "Now, I wish I had gotten it."

To add a lighthearted twist, Jimenez revealed that a beer brand once awarded a beer to every goalkeeper Messi scored against. With 13 goals conceded to Messi, Jimenez is one of the goalkeepers who holds the most "souvenirs" in the form of these beers.

As Messi and Ronaldo approach the twilight of their careers, with Messi now playing for Inter Miami in MLS and Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, Jimenez’s reflections highlight the immense impact both superstars had on football over the last two decades.

In conclusion, while Ronaldo might have provided more opportunities for defenders, Messi’s sheer brilliance left goalkeepers like Jimenez with little chance to stop his magic.