I witnessed one of the best individual defensive performances of the season at the San Siro as Inter Milan defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the Champions League.
Lucio was an absolute colossus in central defense for the nerazzurri, who triumphed thanks to goals from Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso.
The strapping Brazilian repelled everything the Blues had to throw at Inter in this last-16 first-leg clash, dominant in the air and on the ground. He helped his full-back and fellow countryman Maicon out on more than one occasion as Chelsea pressed Inter back for long periods.
Watching Lucio defend really is a thing of beauty. Attackers can rarely wriggle away from Lucio, his long, gangly legs snaffling the ball just when they think they've got away. He is excellent on the turn too, able to maneuver the ball away from danger.
At 31, the former Bayer Lerverkusen and Bayern Munich defender seems at the peak of his powers. And what of those buccaneering runs forward? If there is a player in the world game more adept at carrying the ball out of defense, I haven't seen him.
The Brazilian's partner at the back Walter Samuel is nicknamed 'The Wall,' and the Chelsea attackers must have felt they were banging their heads against one trying to get past the immovable object that was Lucio.
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