Lionel Messi: When Barcelona legend lost it with James Milner in 2019

Lionel Messi is usually a cool customer but he has been known to lose his head at times on the football pitch.

One rare instance of when he’s confronted an opponent came in Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final first leg clash with Liverpool in 2019.

Messi had a running battle with Liverpool midfielder, James Milner, during the game.

Milner put in a number of strong challenges on the Argentine legend.

On one occasion, Milner was absolutely no where near the ball as he sent Messi crashing to the turf.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, understandably, was not happy. He could be seen having words with his opponent as he sat on the floor. Watch the moment below:

Messi "I'm the best free transfer"Milner "We'll see about that…" #LFCpic.twitter.com/9DuYjHKczw

Barcelona went on to win the game 3-0, with Messi scoring twice. Liverpool famously completed the comeback at Anfield, winning 4-0, to progress to the final.

Shortly before the final in Madrid, Milner opened up about his battles with Messi.

And the Liverpool midfielder revealed that Messi was fuming as a result of his challenges.

“He wasn’t happy,” Milner told the Mail. “He was giving me plenty in Spanish going down the tunnel at half-time as well. He was calling me ‘burro’. It translates as donkey but I think it’s also used in Spanish football as a general term for someone who goes around kicking people.

“I asked him if he was all right, but he wasn’t having it. I don’t think he realised I understood his Spanish. He said: ‘That foul you did, that’s because I nutmegged you’.”

Messi was referring to his nutmeg on Milner during Man City vs Barcelona in 2015.

It's six years since Lionel Messi left James Milner on the floor with a nutmeg and even Pep Guardiola was