Ligue1: I’d hit Lionel Messi if I have the chance – Argentine defender, Balerdi

Olympique Marseille’s Argentinian defender Leonardo Balerdi has said that he would hit Lionel Messi if he had the chance.

He said this while sharing his experience of playing against the Paris Saint-Germain superstar.

Balerdi moved to Marseille from German side Borussia Dortmund for €11 million in 2021, the same year Messi swapped Barcelona for PSG.

The central defender only had the opportunity to come up against Messi as he started in both of Marseille’s league games against Christophe Galtier’s side this season.

Les Phoceens were beaten 1-0 at the Parc des Princes and suffered a 3-0 defeat at home.

Messi scored one goal and made two assists at the Velodrome and despite being on the losing side on both occasions, Balerdi was thrilled to go up against fellow countryman and hero.

“It’s special [to play against Lionel Messi],” Balerdi told French broadcaster RMC Sport.

“We inevitably have it in the back of our minds: the greatness of the player, what he means to me and the Argentines, the fact that he is number 1 for us.

“It is possible that unconsciously it does something to us, but honestly, I guarantee it to you 100%: I was going all out and I wanted to win [against PSG]!

“And if I had to hit him [Lionel Messi] unintentionally during an action, I would have done it. We must ignore the importance he has in Argentina.”