"Lionel Messi is incredible, but he doesn't scare anybody," said Real Madrid's young winger Vinicius Junior on Sunday. And on Tuesday, ahead of his side's Clasico clash against Barcelona, coach Santiago Solari was asked if he feared his compatriot. "That word," he said, "doesn't exist in football."
Ask the fans, though, and they may have a different answer. Because Messi has dominated the Clasico in the last decade and the Argentine has saved some of his most memorable moments for games at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The forward's first match at the Bernabeu was in a 3-0 win for Barcelona back in 2005 and even though he set up the first goal for Samuel Eto'o in an impressive display, that night is remembered for Ronaldinho's remarkable display as the Brazilian earned an ovation from the home fans.
The Argentine later inherited his team-mate's number 10 shirt and he has starred in the Clasico ever since. He is the top scorer in the famous fixture, with 26 goals, and 15 of those have come at the Bernabeu.
Standout moments include his brace as a false nine for the first time in the incredible 6-2 win for Pep Guardiola's great side in 2009, a superb solo goal in the Champions League semi-final first leg in 2011, a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory in 2014 and his injury-time decider - and iconic celebration - in a 3-2 success in 2017.
No player from either side has scored as many Clasico goals at the Bernabeu and the Argentine also has nine assists at Real Madrid's stadium.
Having netted in La Liga, in the Champions League and the Spanish Supercopa at the Bernabeu, Messi will now look to convert for the first time there in the Copa del Rey tonight.
"Messi, your garden awaits!" said Barcelona-based paper Sport on their front page today. As usual, their team's hopes at the Bernabeu lie with the brilliant Argentine and Madrid's gameplan, fear or not, will be all about stopping Leo.
