Federico Valverde, the ace midfielder for Real Madrid, has been a consistent presence for both his club and the Uruguayan national team. The Uruguayan international has firmly established himself as one of the best midfielders globally, showcasing his skills alongside the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos at the Santiago Bernabeu despite having offers from other European clubs.
Fede Valverde has returned to South America following a call-up for national team duty during this international break. As he gears up to face the World Cup winners, Argentina, in the world qualifiers, Valverde has disclosed his strategy to contain Messi on the pitch.
Valverde unveils plans for Uruguay’s clash with Argentina
Fede Valverde made his debut for the fourteen-time Champions League winners in 2018 and quickly established himself as one of the most reliable figures in Real Madrid’s midfield. The 25-year-old has amassed 221 appearances across all competitions, having progressed through the ranks of Real Madrid Castilla.
The Real Madrid midfielder has contested against the record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi in the past during El Clásico and later when Messi was with PSG. The duo has faced each other on 12 occasions, with Valverde winning only 4 across all competitions, both at the club and international levels.
As the Uruguay and Argentina clash approaches featuring both Lionel Messi and Fede Valverde for their national sides, the Real Madrid star has unveiled his strategies to halt Lionel Messi on the pitch and prevent him from showcasing his brilliance.
He revealed, “I don’t know. I don’t know how to stop him, and even I was never able to stop him when we faced each other in El Clasico (laughs). We must face him with respect because he is one of the best players in the world.”
The duo last faced off against each other in the Champions League Round of 16 fixture, where Real Madrid defeated Messi’s PSG, allowing them to advance to the next stage. Karim Benzema’s standout performance during that campaign earned him accolades, including the Ballon d’Or award in 2022.
When will Argentina face Uruguay in World Cup qualifier?
The FIFA International break has officially commenced allowing players to be released from their club commitments to represent their national sides. The CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers are set to resume, as South American teams compete for a spot in the world’s biggest football competition, the FIFA World Cup.
The World champions Argentina currently leads the qualifiers table and will host Uruguay, currently holding the second spot, at Estadio Alberto J. Armando in Buenos Aires on Thursday. La Albiceleste aims to extend its 7-point lead and maintain an unbeaten streak in this qualifiers campaign.
Will Fede Valverde succeed to contain Messi in their upcoming clash?
