Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the greatest footballer of all time, but the Barcelona and Argentina legend named another South American superstar as the best ever.
Some of the best quotes on Lionel Messi
Since making his Barca debut back in 2004 at the age of 17, Messi has dominated world football and has dazzled with the ball at his feet.
Regarded as Barcelona’s best ever player and the greatest footballer of all time by many, Messi made just under 800 senior appearances at the Nou Camp, winning every honour possible.
|
Lionel Messi’s Barcelona honours |
Years won |
|---|---|
|
Champions League |
2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 |
|
La Liga |
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
|
Copa del Rey |
2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 |
|
FIFA Club World Cup |
2010, 2012, 2016 |
|
UEFA Super Cup |
2009, 2011, 2015 |
|
Spanish Super Cup |
2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 |
His individual brilliance is highlighted by lifting eight Ballon d’Or’s between 2009 and 2023, and as to be expected, there are plenty of quotes praising Messi down the years.
“Messi or Ronaldo best player in the world? In the world, I would say Ronaldo. Messi is from another planet.” – Arda Turan
“Diego [Maradona] filled us with emotions. But between the cracks, without doubt, Messi is better than Maradona.” – Diego Simeone
“Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi.” – Arsene Wenger
“Messi is the best in the world without any doubt and for me the history of football.” – Luis Enrique
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“This Barca will be remembered as Messi’s Barca. He’s well above anything else I’ve ever seen. He’s an alien.” – Carlos Puyol
“Seeing Messi play is like watching a video game… What Messi does on a football field is simply unthinkable… The way he walks from side to side, and once he sees an opportunity, he simply creates magic.” – Victoria Azarenka
“Messi defies the laws of anatomy, he must have an extra bone in his ankle.” – Carlos Bilardo
“I wear the number 10 Jersey for the US National Team in honour of the Greatest athlete I have ever seen: Messi.” – Kobe Bryant
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Messi called Ronaldo Nazário the “best” he’s seen
Messi was asked by TyC Sports back in 2020 who he thought was his top rival for ‘Greatest of all Time’ status, and instead of naming long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the Argentine selected Brazilian striker Ronaldo as his greatest.
“Ronaldo Nazario was a phenomenom. Of all the strikers I have seen, for me he was the best. An impressive player from any aspect.”
Before the days of Messi and Cristiano, the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid striker was one of the most recognisable names in football.
Powerful, extremely quick, incredible control and a clinical finisher, Ronaldo had every attribute a forward would want and every defender dreads.
A two-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo was also called “as good as Pele” by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whereas another iconic striker, Thierry Henry, said the Brazilian “reinvented the centre-forward position”.
If it wasn’t for a number of serious injuries, Ronaldo could have been spoken about in the same bracket of Messi and Cristiano, but even still he certainly left his mark on the former.