Raphaël Varane reveals how you defend against Lionel Messi | OneFootball

Real Madrid defender Raphäel Varane insists keeping Lionel Messi quiet will always have to be a team effort, as opposed to an individual one.

Varane has starred for Los Blancos since joining from Lens in 2011, winning four Champions League and two LaLiga titles.

But despite becoming one of the best defenders in the world, defending against Messi hasn’t always been straightforward for the Frenchman.

“You can’t defend like you do with others and it takes teamwork,” Varane told LaLiga. “You can’t leave him room.

“Being a defender of Real Madrid means being able to make very few mistakes. We have 50 meters of field behind us.”

“I was inspired by players like Pepe or Sergio Ramos”, the 26-year-old added. “And also Cristiano Ronaldo, who is an example for any footballer.

“Zinedine Zidane is also a great example for me due to his serenity, his always positive being.

“I’ve been here for eight years and every time it’s like starting from scratch. I want to give my best for this shirt.”