Joe Hart faced Messi on ~4 occasions
Joe Hart shared that he faced Lionel Messi on approximately four occasions during his career and genuinely felt honoured to share the pitch with him.
Snapshot · The Rest Is Football
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Jun 22, 2026
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Joe Hart: Goalkeepers Are All Mad — I Wanted Messi, Mbappé and Haaland at Once
At 24:04 · chapter starts 23:10
Gary Lineker poses what seems like a fun hypothetical — which of Messi, Mbappé or Haaland would Joe Hart fear most in a 1v1? — but Hart's answer reframes the entire question. Not one ounce of fear, he says. In fact, he wanted all three running at him at once. He craved impact, their best shot, their hardest effort. [1] — Joe Hart "Joe Hart says he felt not a single ounce of fear at the prospect of facing Messi, Mbappé or Haaland one-on-one. He wanted all three running…" 23:05 It is only now, in retirement, that Hart has stepped back and recognised what an absurd way to think that is — and that yes, goalkeepers are all completely mad. His description of facing Messi is the analytical highlight of the episode: whatever angle Hart closed off, whatever option he tried to present as the 'easy' one, Messi would always take the hardest one and execute it with unnerving calm. Far post? The ball would cruise into the far corner. Offer the cutback? Messi would cut it back from an impossible angle. [2] — Joe Hart "Whatever option Joe Hart tried to close off in a 1v1 with Messi — the far post, the cutback — Messi would always choose the hardest option …" 24:00 Disheartening, Hart says — but also the thing that dragged the very best out of him. Micah Richards chips in with a detail: Hart actually had one of his best games against Messi, who won Man of the Match in the first leg.
Facing Messi: The Impossible 1v1
Whatever option Joe Hart tried to close off in a 1v1 with Messi — the far post, the cutback — Messi would always choose the hardest option and execute it with total calm. Hart calls it disheartening, but also the thing that brought the best out of him.
Joe Hart's Camp Nou trio: Messi, Neymar, Suárez
Joe Hart recalled playing at Camp Nou against Messi, Neymar, and Suárez simultaneously, describing it as reverting to his school days of pure footballing joy.
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