Lionel Messi believes Real Madrid were not the best team in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Madrid won their 14th European crown thanks to Vinicius Junior’s early second half goal in Saturday night’s final 1-0 against Liverpool in Paris.
It was the culmination of a campaign that had seen Carlo Ancelotti’s men defeat the likes of the Reds’ Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea on their way to the final at the Stade de France.
But arguably the greatest drama in their route to the final came in the last-16 tie against PSG, when Karim Benzema’s stunning 17-minute hat-trick turned the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid’s favour.
But speaking to Argentinian broadcaster TYC, 34-year-old star Messi still insists Madrid were not the best side to have played in it this season.
“The Real Madrid game killed us. The best team doesn’t always win.
“Without taking anything away from Madrid, because they are the champions of Europe and they’re always there or thereabouts, but they weren’t the best team of this Champions League.
“The Champions League is about situations, key moments, psychological moments that take a team, where the slightest error can eliminate you and the those who are best prepared for those situations end up winning or reaching the final.”
It was just one of a number of disappointments for Messi this season, having scored just six goals in Ligue 1 in 2021-22 following his move from Barcelona.
