The pair have met on a trio of occasions, including in the 2014 World Cup Final, with the German equating their encounters to a religious audience
Christoph Kramer has compared facing Lionel Messi to his meeting with the Pope, with the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder hailing the chances he has had to play against the Argentine.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, a six-time Ballon d'Or winner, is considered one of the game's all-time greats, with plenty of his peers frequently queuing up to lavish praise upon him.
Gladbach midfielder Kramer has faced the attacker on several occasions, including in the Brazil 2014 World Cup Final, and has admitted that he has an image of the two facing off as his social media icon, such is the respect he has for the veteran attacker.
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"This will always be my WhatsApp profile picture, the best moment I've played football my whole career," Kramer told DAZN, in reference to his on-field encounter with the Argentine. "Everyone wants to win a tackle against Messi, but nobody really manages to do it.
“I would have liked to have spoken with him, but I had too much respect to build up the conversation and I don’t know what language to speak!
"I have to say - and I only had a feeling like that when I met the Pope - there's something awesome about him standing face-to-face."
The former Germany international faced the Argentine in back-to-back seasons in the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen, in 2015, and with Gladbach, in 2016, drawing the former and losing the latter.
But their most well-documented encounter remains the 2014 World Cup Final, when the former was a last-gasp call-up into the starting XI against La Albiceleste.
Kramer was forced off through injury half-an-hour in, but left with a winners' medal after Germany triumphed, denying Messi the one major honour of his career that continues to elude him.
N0_N0NsENSE
99
Anyone and Everyone who understands football knows Messi is the "One above all" He makes you fall in love with the game everytime ❤️
Autty”
60
That’s what you get when you humble yourself…people admire the Real Goat…MESSI THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME
HonestCr7FaN
26
We all know both Ronaldo and Messi get GOAT shouts, but have they done anything to prove it? For Ronaldo, he was clearly seen to eat grass in the middle of a game, which strongly justified the GOAT shouts he receives. Has Messi ever done anything like this to justify his GOAT shouts. Never. Cr7 GOat for a reason 🐐
Blackpearlll
22
win or lose its all depends on the teams n luck do u ever think City is starter before Pep coming in EPL open your eyes mf Ronaldo fanboys.if you watch live or from the stadium u ll realise n see different between of them Stop compare Messi vs Ronaldo Messi is Messi always everywhere in top if you don't want it's ok that's ur opinion no one cares but wanna say that 😜 we r human just understand if u love football that's it he's football
Saaaknouy
8
We all know both Ronaldo and Messi get GOAT shouts, but have they done anything to prove it? For Ronaldo, he was clearly seen to eat grass in the middle of a game, which strongly justified the GOAT shouts he receives. Has Messi ever done anything like this to justify his GOAT shouts. Never. Cr7 GOat for a reason 🐐
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your madness is on another level, nonsensical football fan