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Years from now, when football is discussed in local pubs, on national television or in boardrooms – one name will always be part of it along with the usual suspects, i.e. Pele, Maradona, Zidane etc. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be remembered similarly in the current generation, owing to their exploits over the years for club and country.
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time, well you don't have to take my word for that, greats of the beautiful game along with other accomplished selves from different walks of life have all witnessed his magic and acknowledged it.
So without further gilding the lily, here are the best quotes from legends on the little genius that is Lionel Messi.
1. Johan Cruyff
"For the world of footballl, Messi is a treasure because he is a role model for children around the world… Messi will be the player to win the most Ballons d’Or in history. He will win five, six, seven. He is incomparable. He’s in a different league."
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Johan Cruyff has been known to be the most prominent advocate of Total Voetbal (Total Football) and has been credited for making Barcelona the football club that they are today.
The Dutch legend foretold that Messi would dominate world football and although the Argentine has won 6 Ballon d'Ors so far, nothing is stopping him from winning a few more.
2. Hristo Stoichov
"Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol. Today you need a machine gun to stop Lionel Messi."
The FC Barcelona legend – widely regarded as the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time – disclosed what he thinks is a successful way of stopping Messi. However, there are no guarantees as this has not been tried and tested.
The original 'El Pistolero' won the Ballon d'Or in 1994 for his exploits with Barcelona. If a pistol was required to stop a one-time Ballon d'Or winner, it is only apt that a machine gun is necessary to stop Messi.
3. Romario
“Newton and Einstein had a certain level of autism - I hope that, like them, Lionel Messi surpasses himself every day and continues to give us his beautiful brand of football."
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, Golden Ball winner, didn't hold back while praising Messi, even going as far as comparing the fleet-footed Argentine to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.
Considered by many to be on a level similar to Pele, Romario has won almost all there is to win and despite being a Brazilian even he acknowledged the brilliance of Lionel Messi.
4. Carles Puyol
“This Barca will be remembered as Lionel Messi’s Barca. He’s well above anything else I’ve ever seen. He’s an alien."
Carles Puyol has won all that there is to be won with Barcelona and Spain in a career that spanned over 15 years. He led the team through the golden times during Pep Guardiola and even he acknowledged that despite the presence of so many superstars, it was Messi's Barcelona, not Xavi's, not Villa's but Messi's.
5. Zinedine Zidane
"Lionel Messi is always going forwards. He never passes the ball backwards or sideways. He has only one idea, to run towards the goal. So as a football fan, just enjoy the show."
The Real Madrid manager has to come up against Messi in El Clasico, despite having never lost to Barcelona during his managerial career but that hasn't stopped the French legend from praising Cristiano Ronaldo's arch-rival.
Zidane is one of the few players in the world to have won absolutely everything there is to be won including the Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Cup, Euro and the UEFA Champions League and as the great man said – "Just enjoy the show!"
6. Roy Keane
"I was a big fan of Maradona growing up and of the current crop [Cristiano] Ronaldo is good but Lionel Messi is the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t dish out praise lightly but Messi deserves it. I look for weaknesses in his game and I can’t find them."
Roy Keane is not a person to be taken lightly or fiddled with, he has proved that time and again on and off the pitch. The Manchester United legend was one of the most robust and combative midfielders of all-time. Despite his association with Ronaldo, he admitted that the Portuguese international couldn't match the level of Messi.
He even went on to make a bold statement that he tried to look for faults is the Argentine's game, but he couldn't find one.
7. Raul
"The other day I saw one of his games. He was running with the ball at a hundred per cent full speed, I don’t know how many touches he took, maybe five or six, but the ball was glued to his foot. It’s practically impossible."
Arguably one of the greatest Real Madrid players of all-time, even Raul admitted that what Messi does on the pitch is not only challenging but practically impossible.
Messi will go down as arguably the greatest dribbler of all-time – behind only the legendary Garrincha probably – and that left even Raul awestruck.
8. Diego Simeone
"Diego [Maradona] filled us with emotions. But between the cracks, without doubt, Lionel Messi is better than Maradona."
The Atletico Madrid manager has suffered the wrath of Messi the most out of all managers across the world.
But the two-time Copa America winning Argentine translated our emotions into words, and it couldn't have been done any better.
9. Sid Lowe
"If he is so good, how can you express that? The superlatives ran out ages ago. On these pages, swearing has been tried. Or perhaps a symbol, something to signify that we have gone beyond words now."
Words don't do justice to Lionel Messi as has been so aptly summed up by The Guardian columnist Sid Lowe.
10. Kobe Bryant
"I wear the number 10 Jersey for the US National Team in honour of the Greatest athlete I have ever seen: Messi."
Arguably one of the greatest Basketball players of all-time, Bryant went as far as calling the Barcelona #10 as the greatest athlete he has ever seen.
Not only that, but the Los Angeles Lakers legend also made the bold claim that he wore the #10 jersey for the US National Team in honour of the 6-time Ballon d'Or winner.
11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“Lionel Messi does not need his right foot. He only uses the left and he’s still the best in the world. Imagine if he also used his right foot, Then we would have serious problems."
Who are we to argue against Zlatan! What Zlatan says, we – mere mortals – agree with it.
And if that was not enough from Ibrahimovic, here is the Swedish superman settling the debate about who is better.
“Who’s better, Messi or Zlatan? After what Leo has done in recent years, there’s no debate.”
12. Paolo Maldini
“I think he reached and surpassed the level of Maradona. He does incredible things, at a speed that is insane."
As far as defenders are concerned, they don't get better than Paolo Maldini. The AC Milan legend went on to make the bold claim that Messi not only reached Maradona's level but he has surpassed the World Cup-winning Argentine.
There is no denying the quality of Lionel Messi but when one of the greatest defenders of all-time makes a statement of this magnitude, you better pay attention to him.
13. Xavi
"It is clear that Lionel Messi is on a level above all others. Those who do not see that are blind."
Arguably the greatest Spanish footballer of all time, Xavi, has been vociferous in his support of Lionel Messi. The Spaniard is oft considered to be the embodiment of the famous Tiki-Taka football that originated at Barcelona and was practiced successfully by the Spanish national team.
In the eyes of Barcelona's record appearance holder, Messi is the greatest footballer to have ever graced the football pitch. Now, who are we to argue against the best Spanish footballer of all time?
14. Luis Figo
"For me, to watch Lionel Messi play is a pleasure – it’s like having an orgasm – it’s an incredible pleasure."
Luis Figo may not have the best of memories with Barcelona following his unceremonious departure for Real Madrid. Still, the 2000 Ballon d'Or winner didn't refrain from expressing his sentiments regarding the Little Magician.
15. Pep Guardiola
"Don't write about him, don't try to describe him. Just watch him."
We will leave it at that!
