In a hilarious clip shared by The Obi One Podcast on their official X account, Roberto Carlos recounted the moment he broke his finger trying to grab Lionel Messi’s shirt during a Real Madrid-Barcelona clash. The incident, which occurred around the 80th minute, showcased Messi’s early dribbling genius and left Carlos with a lasting souvenir.
SoftFootball recently highlighted Messi’s incredible career and his status as football’s all-time assist king. John Mikel Obi asked Carlos about that first encounter, recalling Messi’s dribble past both him and Fabio Cannavaro.
Carlos immediately pointed to his finger, joking:
Look at my finger. Look, look, look, look, my finger. It’s Messi. I grabbed him here and he did it. I broke my finger, yes.
The Brazilian legend laughed as he told Obi that Messi’s speed and skill left him amazed.
He said:
That kid is so good. He goes on one-on-one with me. He dribbles me outside, goes inside, and I tried to grab his shirt. And yes, my finger is all messed up. Coming here to the other side. It’s like having a souvenir from him.
Carlos confirmed he still shows Messi the finger whenever they meet, with both sharing a laugh over the story.
He said:
You see my finger? It’s still like this today, of course. It’s all because of Messi’s fault and he laughs. It’s great to have him.
Obi teased whether Carlos was glad to retire shortly after, to which Carlos simply replied, saying:
Messi was top.
Watch the full video below:
The story underlines how even football legends like Roberto Carlos had to reckon with Messi’s brilliance from a young age. Messi’s career has been defined by moments like these, combining flair, speed, and creativity that leave defenders bewildered.
SoftFootball also highlighted Messi’s pride in representing Argentina and his ongoing influence in the sport. For fans, this anecdote is a humorous reminder of the magic Messi brings to the game and how his talent has always been impossible to contain.
