Lionel Messi has given the perfect response to dispel any doubts he wouldn't be able to do the business on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke.
The Argentinean superstar has spent his entire career at Barcelona but has been linked with moves to the Premier League with Manchester United and City both being touted as possible landing spots in the past.
Pep Guardiola explored the possibility of bringing Messi over to England when he arrived at City back in 2016 but failed in his attempts to persuade him to leave Barcelona.
Messi has year-on-year lit up La Liga and now seems destined to finish his career at Barcelona. It's led to questions over whether or not the 31-year-old would be able to emulate the success he's had in Spain in the Premier League.
The yardstick in this instance comes back to the old adage 'Can you do it on a cold night in Stoke?'. Some believe Messi would struggle but he produced a convincing riposte when quizzed about this by Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner replied by reflecting on his days as a kid playing football in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina.
Balague told BBC 5 Live Sport: 'I asked Messi about people in England saying: 'You would not do so well on a cold, wet night in Stoke'.
'He said: 'They should have seen the pitches I played on in Rosario and I was quite good there too.''
With Stoke in the Championship and Messi tied down until 2021 - with a release clause of £626m - it's unlikely we will ever find out if he could do it on a cold night in Staffordshire.
But Messi has gone on to win every trophy available to a club player and is the club's all-time leading goalscorer with 513 goals, and counting. So, maybe it's best to just take his word for it.
pardonol
281
I never said Barca isn't a good team, imo they're the best in the world. The best team in the world wouldn't collapse without one of their players but if you're saying they're just as good with Messi as they are without him then you must not watch that often
Khalifymapant
239
I salute you messi.... No talking plenty just simply answer to the haters "They should have seen the pitches i play in Rosario"
shariffeyyulegunshot
212
A world classic player who 57 personal trophy , 5pichich and 5marca award total 67 trophies
keaiae
205
I feel like this can't be said indefinitely though. Like, they'd without doubt dominate the game as well as possession, but that era of Stoke had a way of creating at least 2/3 clear-cut chances a game regardless of the opposition due to their size, aggression and tactical effectiveness. 9/10 Barca would win, but i feel like stoke would maybe have a better chance than what you're giving them credit for
regman
184
98% possession for Barca. The 2% possession for Stoke would be for their goalkeeper taking goal kicks.
messimiliano
170
I don't know why people keep asking that question when he has already proven to us that premier league is no match for him. Messi is the best and will always be wether on snow pitch, fire pitch, poor condition pitch and any pitch you can think of
Malpacinons
165
The whole thing is just a joke at this point, but seriously, he has faced the top English clubs and made a devastating job against them. Anyone who thinks he has to somehow "prove" himself in the Premier league is just delusional. If he can dominate against the absolute elite of the league how wouldn't he be able to dominate against the inferior teams?
wrappedbe
164
From Zlatan to Roney to Buffon to Raul.. And countless others are constantly saying Messi is the goat. But calma calma from middle east who walks 3 km to find fresh water thinks Messi is overrated and can't play in the premier league. Lmao
jayjayly
121
Interviewer: Could you play as well as you normally do but this time against inferior competition? Messi: Gee that's a tough one.
damone
113
For people like me, I believe Messi can perform anywhere, but when I say he should test himself in another league, it's more of him adapting to a new team and new pattern of play and less of adapting to the opposition teams, like joining present day United...that's why I think the only club in the world he can join outside Barca is Man City