Football: 5 players who are fan favourites but hated by rival fanbases

#2 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has represented Barcelona over 400 times

Catalonian cult hero and the bane of every Real Madrids fan's life, Lionel Messi is one of the most talked-about players in world football. In fact, some consider the 31-year-old to be the best player that’s ever lived. So, it makes sense as to why Barcelona fans literally worship the ground he walks on. In Madrid's eyes, however, he can do no right.

Messi is despised not just for what he represents, but his exceptional ability too. There’s not a player alive that best represents Barcelona’s dominance over Madrid over the past decade more than Lionel Messi. The Argentine has been a thorn in the side of Los Blancos for so long, winning eight La Ligas in Spain.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find any Madrid fan that’ll admit the greatness of Messi. Instead, they go out of their way to downplay his achievements and ability.