Former Barcelona Star Jérémy Mathieu Jokes He Took Free Kicks Better Than Lionel Messi

Jérémy Mathieu, the French defender who helped Barcelona capture a historic treble in 2014-15, has never lacked confidence—especially when it comes to set pieces. “I think I was better at free kicks than Lionel Messi,” Mathieu quipped with a grin during a recent interview, the twinkle in his eye betraying the tongue-in-cheek nature of the claim. After all, Messi’s name sits high on the all-time list of free-kick scorers, while Mathieu’s résumé in that department is limited to a handful of memorable moments.

One such moment arrived in the 2015 Copa del Rey against Elche, when the centre-back lashed a thunderous strike from outside the box that contributed to the club’s 27th triumph in the tournament. It is that strike Mathieu points to as evidence—however playfully—of his dead-ball prowess.

Mathieu’s route to the Camp Nou was anything but conventional. After forging a reputation as an attacking left-back at Valencia, where he formed a dynamic partnership with Jordi Alba, he arrived in Catalonia at 30, fully aware that regular minutes were no longer guaranteed. A phone call from Luis Enrique—then still awaiting confirmation as Barcelona’s next head coach—helped convince him. “I love how you play. If I’m the coach, I want you on the team,” Enrique told him. Mathieu remained cautious: “I didn’t want to say ‘wait, because for now you’re not Barcelona’s coach.’ I thought: ‘let’s see if he’s selling a dream.’”

The dream materialised. Enrique landed the job, and Valencia’s refusal to match Barça’s offer of an extra €200,000 in salary proved decisive. “If they gave me that, I would have stayed. They said no, and then I left,” Mathieu explained.

His inaugural season in blaugrana colours culminated in La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League glory. Beyond the trophy haul, Mathieu etched his name into Clásico folklore by heading the winner in a 2-1 defeat of Real Madrid at the Camp Nou.

Three seasons later, the defender’s Spanish chapter closed and he moved to Sporting CP. A knee injury in 2020 forced him into retirement, triggering a turbulent transition. “I have many problems…” he admitted, detailing months of depression and isolation. Today, at 42, Mathieu works behind the counter at an Intersport store near Marseille, a daily routine far removed from stadium roars, yet one that keeps him connected to the rhythms of ordinary life.

Whether or not he truly believes he could out-shoot Messi from 20 yards, Mathieu’s light-hearted boast ensures one thing: the Frenchman’s competitive fire still flickers, even if the stage has changed.