One can't talk about El Clasico without discussing Lionel Messi's extraordinary performances against Real Madrid. For close to two decades, numerous managers and defenders have endeavored, albeit unsuccessfully, to hinder Messi, who always found a way to outmaneuver them. 'The Argentine Wizard' was indeed the bane of Real Madrid's existence during his tenure at Barcelona.

Real Madrid's Fede Valverde admitted his cluelessness about stopping Messi. But surprisingly, Marcelo, the veteran left-back who had several encounters with Messi, confessed a peculiar approach to dissuade Messi from stirring up a storm.

In an interview with 'Charla Podcast,' Marcelo explained, "We always said that we should leave him like that because if we tried to interfere, we would rouse him, making him even more formidable."

Messi's titan-like presence manifested itself via 45 matches against Real Madrid. These matches spanned several competitions—La Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Champions League—where Messi's scoring propensity resulted in a staggering 26 goals, creating a Clasico record. Each goal affirmed Messi's prowess and his status as a decisive player in Barcelona's triumphs.

With Messi emblazoned in the annals of football as one of the world's greatest, the question that arises is what lies in store for Messi and Real Madrid. Messi's forthcoming matches are with Argentina against Uruguay and Brazil in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, post the international break, Real Madrid will face Cadiz. The world awaits these games with bated breath.