When Argentina faced the Netherlands, the Liverpool star was a challenge for Lionel Messi

An old rivalry was reignited when Lionel Messi's Argentina faced the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal in Qatar, the greatest player of all time may have faced Virgil van Dijk, who was also mentioned in the discussion of the greatest defenders in history with Liverpool playing Barcelona in the Champions League

In the 2018–19 season, the two superstars have faced off against each other numerous times throughout the years. Although Messi was in inspirational form in the first leg at Camp Nou, where Liverpool defeated Barcelona over the course of two legs to advance to the final, hitting a stunning free kick from 30 yards out while holding a shutout.

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In an interview with Marca that same year, Messi waxed poetic about Van Dijk, saying: "He is a defender who can assess whether to challenge or jockey the attacker and wait for the proper opportunity. Despite being huge and swift, he is surprisingly agile for someone his size." He is noteworthy in both offense 

And defense because of his long stride and prolific goal scoring. Prior to the encounter in Qatar, Messi and Van Dijk had not interacted since that time. They may still face off in the Champions League, but Liverpool and PSG must first defeat Real Madrid and, in the case of PSG, Bayern Munich, Prior to Argentina's World Cup quarterfinal matchup

<strong>Scored three goals in four appearances</strong>

Against the Netherlands, Lionel Messi has expressed his respect for Virgil van Dijk, Messi continued his stellar play in the World Cup, where he has now scored three goals in four appearances, by scoring the opening goal in his team's Round of 16 triumph over Australia, Messi's goal helped his country advance to the last eight, where they will take on Louis van Gaal's team, the 35-year-old attacker scored in Argentina's shocking opening-match defeat to Saudi Arabia, as well as in a crucial win for Lionel Scaloni's team against Mexico. Although he did not score against Poland, he was crucial to his team's two-goal triumph.