Esteban Andrada warns of Lionel Messi’s effect on referees

For a goalkeeper, there are few prospects more daunting than an impending meeting with Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar has scored more than 800 goals in his illustrious career and has started 2024 with five goals in five appearances.

He will look to add to that tally on Wednesday when Inter Miami take on Monterrey in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup clash. Ahead of the game Rayados goalkeeper Esteban Andrada admitted that Messi’s presence can be decisive in big matches but insisted that he hopes the Miami captain will be fit to play.

“Whenever he is there he brings a different effect on the atmosphere, on the referees ... the truth is that I hope he can play. I wish him a speedy recovery and [know] we have to be one hundred percent focused on the game,” Andrada told reporters.

“His presence is worth a lot, he doesn’t talk much. Whether he is there at any time during training or concentration, his presence is already intimidating. But we know that in the game we are eleven against eleven and that is where respect for everything ends.”

The Herons also boast the likes of Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, all players that Andrada will be wary of facing: “I think they have very important players, many great figures and that whether [Messi’s] here or not I think it’s going to be a tough game. We have to be switched on and focused on Wednesday’s game to think about getting a big result.”

Andrada prepares for another Messi meeting

It’s been five years since Andrada last shared a pitch with Lionel Messi. That came in 2019 when the then-Boca Juniors goalkeeper was called up to the Argentina national team to feature in international friendlies.

Andrada first got the call in March ahead of a game against Morocco but he omitted from that summer’s Copa América squad after picking up a knee injury. Argentina went on to win that tournament, securing Messi’s first piece of international silverware.

However Andrada would get another opportunity later that year when he was called up again by Lionel Scaloni. This time the goalkeeper had better luck, playing 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Brazil and a 2-2 draw with Uruguay. He and Messi started both games for La Albiceleste.

Now aged 33 and without an international appearance since 2019, it looks unlikely that Andrada will represent his nation again. But the Monterrey keeper has the chance to write his name into the history books as he goes in search of another CONCACAF title with Monterrey, who also won the 2021 edition of the illustrious pan-continental tournament.