Gvardiol claims facing Lionel Messi is harder when he's playing for Argentina

and

faced each other in the 2022 World Cup semi-final and Argentina managed to beat Croatia with three goals to reach the final.

The 20-year-old center-back who also played against Messi in

 shirt claims that playing against him in Argentina shirt is harder.

As reported by BILD, Gvardiol said:

“It was harder to defend against him than it was in our game against Paris. It's completely different - he has a completely different profile in the club than in the national team.

"Why? I think he was very motivated, it was his last chance to get something. For me, he's the best player I've had to defend against so far. He's small and all you can do is foul or tackle him.”

The Croatian defender has been linked with many top clubs after his impressive performances at the World Cup. However, he has recently admitted that he is in no hurry to leave Leipzig.

Gvardiol, who came close to a move to Chelsea in the summer, told RTL Danas:

"I'm not in a hurry. I'm at Leipzig and we still have six months to finish the season and to win something. And then we will look further to the future. Last summer a transfer was close and they simply kept me. I hope to spend these six months with them [Leipzig].”

Gvardiol who has been linked with Manchester City and Real Madrid also named Liverpool his dream club.

"My dream club? That would definitely be Liverpool, Since I was little, I watched a lot of their matches with my dad. We covered every season in detail. It is a club that has remained in my heart".

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