“That kind of shows when he’s out there on the pitch” - When NBA star Steph Curry spoke about his comparison with Lionel Messi

Stephen Curry and Lionel Messi are two iconic figures who have reached the pinnacle of basketball and football, respectively. Thanks to their exceptional achievements, both players have been compared to each other, with Curry even commenting on Messi’s brilliance.

Back in 2018, while Messi was still playing for Barcelona, Curry was setting fresh standards in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. As a three-time NBA champion at the time, Curry believed he and Messi shared a common trait in bringing ‘creativity and innovation’ to their sport. Curry, who won the title that year, felt it consequently elevated the level of play.

In 2018, Curry spoke to reporters about his comparisons to Messi, stating:

"I think it’s the creative genius to what he does and a flair, but also there is a fundamental aspect to the flair. The work that he puts in, I’m assuming, based on the talent that he has, and combining that with the talent that he has and how that kind of shows when he’s out there on the pitch."

“So I think there’s a lot of comparison, really, around the creativity and the innovation that we bring to our respective sports and trying to, I guess, impact - I would say influence the next generation to try to push themselves as well," Curry said (via GOAL)

An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi is widely considered the greatest footballer of all time. After leaving Barcelona in 2021, the Argentine skipper joined Paris Saint-Germain and spent two seasons in France before moving to the United States to play for Inter Miami.

Meanwhile, Curry has continued with the Golden State Warriors, winning the NBA title in 2022 and also earning the Finals MVP award that year. He was part of the team that won the gold medal with the United States at the recent Olympics in Paris.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino provides update on Lionel Messi's return

Lionel Messi’s trophy collection has continued to grow with Argentina. After winning the Copa America in 2021, La Albiceleste won the FIFA World Cup the following year. They also emerged victorious in the Finalissima and the most recent Copa America in the USA.

However, the 37-year-old sustained an ankle injury during the 2024 Copa America final against Colombia, with Argentina securing a 1-0 victory thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s extra-time goal.

The injury now appears serious, as the former Barcelona superstar is yet to resume training and has missed Inter Miami’s matches in the Leagues Cup. Despite his absence, the club have advanced to the Round of 16 and are set to face Columbus on Wednesday, August 14.

Regarding Messi’s recovery and potential return, head coach Tata Martino noted that while Messi is showing improvement, he is still not participating in on-field training.

“Leo is getting better every day. He’s still training in the gym [not the field] but he’s better every time and doing well in the timeframe we had considered,” he said before Inter Miami’s game against Toronto FC (via ESPN)

Even without Messi, Inter Miami have been performing well and recently defeated Toronto FC 4-3 in the Round of 32 of the Leagues Cup. However, Martino will be hoping for the return of players of his key players to provide a boost for the Herons as they enter the final stages of the competition.