What do Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho have in common? That’s right, they’ve both found Joe Hart to be a thorn in their side.
The goalkeeper, who is set to play his final game in professional football this weekend, spent 12 years at Manchester City where he made 348 appearances and won 75 caps for England and faced the world’s best players.
In those peak years of his career, the now-37-year-old was simply unbeatable on his day.
In 2013, England hosted Brazil in the first-ever match at the brand new Wembley Stadium, a fixture the Three Lions won 2-1.
However, it’s a night remembered for Hart’s heroics having managed to deny Ronaldinho from the penalty spot with a wonderful diving save.
Not only that, but he also kept out Neymar’s rebounded effort, much to the bemusement of Ronaldinho, who couldn’t believe what he had witnessed.
But Hart’s heroics against Brazil were no fluke, something he showed two years later in 2015 when facing Barcelona in the Champions League.
Man City were 2-1 down going into the second leg at the Nou Camp and in that decisive clash, Hart pulled off no less than ten saves to keep Barcelona out, including a penalty stop to deny Lionel Messi and limit the Catalan side to just a 1-0 win.
The Argentine superstar, who is widely renowned as football’s greatest ever player, was full of praise for Hart after the game, saying: “He saved everything.
“We had a lot of clear chances but the keeper had a brilliant game.
“We can only congratulate him, but the important thing is we achieved our objective to get through.”
Barcelona’s boss, Luis Enrique reiterated that point, saying: “The score could have been a rout. Hart was incredible.
“We had a lot of chances, which is not normal in this type of game. We deserved to win by a bigger goal difference.”
Hart was then dumped by Pep Guardiola at City and his career stagnated with moved to West Ham and Torino not proving to be the boosts he needed.
However, after helping Celtic to the treble last season, Hart has decided it’s time to retire.
Speaking about that decision, he said: “I got to a point, I had a very good 20s, my football was really good but then I struggled a bit in terms of my place.
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“Then I got this opportunity then which I couldn’t turn down.
“But I didn’t know how it was going to play out, I wanted to commit for the three years and give everything.
“I got to a point in my life where I was potentially on the way out and got another opportunity. I don’t want to push that luck, I want to finish strong, in a special place, in a special club.”
But before he retires, he can help the Bhoys pick up one more trophy in his final game of senior football.
Celtic face Rangers in the Scottish FA Cup final at Hampden Park, so a win against the Bhoys’ bitter rivals to seal a domestic cup double would be the perfect way for Hart to end what has been a stellar career.
News Summary:
- Lionel Messi was in awe and footage caught Ronaldinho’s stunned reaction to Joe Hart Champions League heroics
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.