I played against special Messi but this guy was even better – Brown

During his 14-year spell at Celtic, Scott Brown came up against some of the world’s best in European competition under the Paradise lights.

Lionel Messi paid Brown a few visits during his successful spell in Glasgow’s east end, but the Argentine was not the best player he faced.

That honor goes to Andres Iniesta, who Brown believes was always a better player over 90 minutes when Celtic faced Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
Brown told the Daily Record Hotline Live that playing against Iniesta was difficult because the Spaniard was surrounded by Sergio Busquets and Xavi.

He stated, “I really tried to understand what Iniesta was doing.

“Every time he got the ball, he raced straight at you. His initial touch was forward.

“Usually, lads try to manage the ball, but he just comes straight after you.

“I was like, oh, he’s tiny, I’m going to munch him, but he was just so sharp and elegant on the ball.”

Brown continued: “Their team was a joke at the time; they had Busquets, Xavi, and him. You had Suarez, and Messi was obviously fine as well.

“But every game we played, I thought Iniesta outperformed him.

“Don’t get me wrong, Messi had special moments that nobody else could recreate, but Iniesta as in, making sure the game ticked over, him, Busquets and Xavi were in a different world.”