Overview
- Mathieu said in a recent interview, with a grin, “I think I was better at free kicks than Lionel Messi,” a comment covered by multiple outlets.
- Reports stress Messi’s elite reputation on set pieces, with coverage citing 69 career goals from direct free kicks.
- The former defender reflected on his Barcelona spell, recalling a long‑range 2015 Copa del Rey strike against Elche.
- He recounted that a pre‑appointment call from Luis Enrique and Valencia’s refusal to match an extra €200,000 influenced his 2014 move to Barcelona.
- After three seasons at Barcelona and a later stint at Sporting CP, a 2020 knee injury ended his career, and he has since described depression and a quieter life working at an Intersport near Marseille.