Clash of Icons: Recalling the Unforgettable Showdown Between Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi in 2005

In a recent Adidas interview, football legends Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi reminisced about cherished memories. Surprisingly, the duo shared the pitch only once, a momentous encounter in November 2005.

During this clash, Real Madrid hosted Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu, and the outcome was a resounding 0-3 victory for the Blaugrana. Lionel Messi played a pivotal role, assisting Samuel Eto’o for the opening goal and compelling Zidane to shift his focus to defensive duties.

The match took a heated turn as Zidane recklessly fouled Messi 33 minutes into the game, escaping without a booking. The incident left Xavi and the Barcelona team fuming, but Zidane remained unapologetic. Surprisingly, the spotlight that day was not on Madrid’s No. 5 or Barcelona’s emerging star; it belonged to Ronaldinho, whose brace secured the win for the visitors.

Such was Ronaldinho’s impact that even the Bernabeu crowd, typically staunch supporters of Real Madrid, gave the Brazilian maestro a round of applause as he left the field. Ronaldinho remains one of only three Barcelona players ever applauded at Santiago Bernabeu.

Relive the magic of Ronaldinho’s arguably best game in a Barcelona shirt, an unforgettable chapter in the storied rivalry between two football giants.