Lionel Messi, Hugo Lloris’s Worst Nightmare

Lionel Messi seems to be a recurring nightmare for the French — especially for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Their most recent clash came in the Concachampions, where Messi scored twice in Inter Miami’s win over Los Angeles FC, the team Lloris now plays for. The match brought back memories of the 2022 World Cup final, where the two had previously faced off.

Inter Miami had lost the first leg 1-0 in California, but with Messi leading the way, they turned the tie around with a dominant 3-1 win at home. Las Garzas will now face the winner between Mexico’s Pumas and Canada’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals.

Head-to-Head: Messi vs. Lloris

Qatar 2022

The World Cup final was decided in Argentina’s favor after a dramatic penalty shootout. In regulation time, Messi calmly converted a penalty, waiting for Lloris to move before placing the ball. In the second extra time period, he scored again, tapping the ball in after a brilliant team move. He also took Argentina’s first penalty in the shootout, once again outsmarting the French goalkeeper.

Concachampions 2025

In their most recent meeting, Messi once again stood out with a brace: the first from the penalty spot and the second on a counterattack, smashing a shot into the top left corner. He was the key figure in Inter Miami’s qualification.

Russia 2018

To find a Lloris victory over Messi, you have to go back to Kazan in the Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup. It was a thrilling match that ended 4-3 in favor of France, one of their most impressive performances of that tournament.

Messi’s Penalty Against Lloris

During the Concachampions match, Messi took his penalty without even looking at the ball, keeping his eyes locked on Lloris. The French goalkeeper stayed frozen in the center of the goal, while the Argentine slotted the ball to the side with his trademark finesse and precision.

After the match, Lloris admitted he had asked Messi for his jersey, a sign of his deep respect for the Argentine captain. The Frenchman has long expressed admiration for his rival, once saying before their clash in Russia 2018: “Messi is a genius.”