“I want to play soccer with him” - Rodtang offers idol Lionel Messi free Muay Thai lessons in exchange for some time on the pitch

Thai superstar Rodtang Jitmuangnon wants to spend some time on the pitch with legendary footballer Lionel Messi.

When he's not busy stacking bodies on martial arts' biggest global stage, the reigning ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion loves to spend his time playing football. Like most football fans, 'The Iron Man' is a massive fan of Messi.

During a recent interview with ONE Championship, Rodtang proposed an interesting trade with the Inter Miami team captain—let him spend some time on the pitch in exchange for free Muay Thai lessons:

“It means very much to me. I put this shirt in the frame and hung it on the wall. I’m super happy with the gift. Everyone who likes football dreams of getting close to Messi. Of course, I want to play soccer with him, and for sure, I would teach him Muay Thai.”

Considering Rodtang is considered one of, if not the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter in the world, that sounds like a pretty solid deal.

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Rodtang looks to go two-up on underdog Jacob Smith in ONE 169 rematch

While we anxiously awaited Lionel Messi's response, fight fans will be focused on Rodtang's upcoming title tilt on Friday, Nov. 8.

Returning to the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, 'The Iron Man' will put his ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title up for grabs at ONE 169 when he runs back his May 2022 clash with British standout Jacob Smith.

'The Iron Man' delivered a dominant performance against Smith in their first meeting, bloodying and battering the Brit with a series of brutal elbow strikes en route to a decisive unanimous decision victory.

Since then, Smith has shown great strides in improving his game—as seen in his first-round knockout of Walter Goncalves at ONE Fight Night 17.

But despite his evolution, Smith is still seen by many as a massive underdog against one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport today.

Can Jacob Smith shock the world and end Rodtang's reign at the top of the flyweight Muay Thai division, or will 'The Iron Man' make another example of the Brit in The Land of Smiles?

Fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE 169: Malykhin vs. ‘Reug Reug’ live on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, Nov. 8 in U.S. primetime.