Lionel Messi‘s storied run at Barcelona is the stuff of legend, but behind the trophies and highlight reels lie quieter tensions. Marc-André ter Stegen recently opened up about disagreements with his former teammate, sparking chatter that the two never truly got along. Despite working together through one of Barcelona’s most successful periods, their relationship was never straightforward.
They shared the locker room for seven seasons, celebrating league titles and Champions League triumphs. Yet Ter Stegen’s recollection suggests the mood wasn’t always rosy. “He is probably the only player who can throw a ball in your face if he wants to,” the goalkeeper told the Phrasenmäher podcast, explaining how Messi’s precision meant he could target a teammate out of frustration. “If he wants to make you feel bad, he can.”
Between tension and triumph
Ter Stegen admitted there were days he was upset with Messi and days the Argentine forward was upset with him. “We had our moments,” he said, describing a relationship filled with intense competitiveness. Still, he emphasized respect remained intact. Messi, now at Inter Miami, wasn’t known for long locker-room speeches. “Leo is not very talkative, he works a lot with his presence,” Ter Stegen noted. “And when he says something, everyone listens.”
Over 17 years at Barcelona, Messi appeared in 778 matches, scored 672 goals, and dished out 292 assists. He captured 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, and earned six Ballons d’Or along the way. This incredible legacy coexisted with personal frictions, though Ter Stegen insists the bigger picture always overshadowed the smaller spats.
There were training-ground disagreements and private disputes, yet both players remained essential pillars in Barcelona’s lineup. Their shared mission to win sometimes fueled personal frustration, but it also drove the team to historic achievements. “We never argued in a way that we didn’t get along at all,” Ter Stegen clarified. “But we had times when things didn’t work out between us because he was upset with me and I was upset with him.”
He acknowledged that Messi’s approach to leadership, based more on example than on words, could clash with his own perspectives. Even so, the German keeper reflected on how their internal challenges never derailed their pursuit of victories. Ultimately, two great professionals managed to thrive side by side, even if they were never the closest of friends.
