Chile legend Arturo Vidal has opened up on how his team neutralized Lionel Messi in the 2016 Copa America final, describing the Inter Miami star as “Argentina’s most important player.”

Speaking on the ‘A dos cámaras’ YouTube channel, the former Inter Milan and Barcelona midfielder revealed that Chile’s game plan was built around shutting down Messi’s influence.

“What we were clear about was that when Leo had the ball, every player who was close had to come up to help press him. Why? Because we knew he is the most important player that Argentina has,” Vidal said via BolaVIP.

Vidal admitted that Messi’s ability to dribble past one, two, or even three defenders to score meant Chile had to mark him with multiple players at all times. When closing him down wasn’t enough, Vidal noted that the plan also included fouling Messi to break Argentina’s rhythm.

Despite Messi’s brilliance, Chile executed their strategy effectively, holding Argentina to a goalless draw before clinching victory 4-2 on penalties. That triumph earned Chile back-to-back Copa America titles (2015 and 2016), with both final wins coming against Argentina.

Opinion:
Arturo Vidal’s revelation is a reminder of just how much respect Messi commands on the pitch—even from his fiercest rivals. When an entire team shapes its tactics around stopping one player, it speaks volumes about that player’s influence. For Argentina, Messi has often been more than just a footballer; he’s been the difference-maker, the spark, and at times, the entire hope of a nation.

Yet, Vidal’s honesty also exposes a truth about football at the highest level: genius often attracts resistance. Messi’s talent forced Chile to double up, foul, and frustrate him, which shows that brilliance always comes with a price. What’s remarkable, however, is that even with such strategies, Messi has still managed to define games and inspire Argentina to glory—most notably, the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

This story isn’t just about Chile’s tactical discipline; it’s about Messi’s enduring aura. If anything, Vidal’s words confirm that in the world of football, Messi isn’t just Argentina’s most important player—he’s a living problem every defender has to solve. And most times, there simply isn’t a solution.