Lionel Messi has taken a major step to securing his legacy as the greatest player in the history of football with a series of spellbinding performances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Some of the biggest names in the sport already consider Messi as the GOAT – above Diego Maradona, Pele, and his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having already won seven Ballon d’Or, four Champions Leagues, 11 league titles and countless more trophies, there can be no argument that the Argentinian icon has secured his place in the annals of history. Lifting the World Cup would seal his legacy for good.
Here are 18 big names from the world of football that already consider Messi to be the greatest of all time.
Pep Guardiola
“He is the best player of all time. I compare him with Pele. I am so happy to see this football,” Guardiola said in 2015, after Messi’s Barcelona knocked Bayern Munich out of the Champions League en route to the treble.
READ: The four times Lionel Messi has faced a Pep Guardiola team and how he fared
Wayne Rooney
Nothing has changed. 🤷🏻♂️🐐 https://t.co/j5GjcKto13
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) December 14, 2022
Luka Modric
“Hopefully (Messi) win this World Cup, he is the best player in history and he deserves it,” Modric told reporters, following Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Croatia
“He is having a great World Cup, he is showing his quality and greatness in every game.”
Neymar
“Losing hurts me, it hurts me… it’s something I haven’t learned to live with yet. When I lost, I went to give a hug to the biggest and best in history that I saw playing,” the Brazilian wrote on social media after losing 1-0 to Messi’s Argentina in the 2021 Copa America final.
“My friend and brother MESSI, I was sad and I told him: ‘You beat me.’ I’m very sad for having lost. But this guy is awesome! I have great respect for what he has done for football and especially for me. I HATE TO LOSE!!!! But enjoy your title, football was waiting for you for that moment! CONGRATULATIONS BROTHER.”
Arsene Wenger
The legendary Arsenal manager had already made up his mind when Messi was just 22 years old.
just arsene wenger (one of the greatest managers of all time) settling the goat debate back in 2011 when messi was 22! pic.twitter.com/8KS6AUYeU3
— taha. (vamos albicelestes 🇦🇷) (@StanAbdurr) December 14, 2022
John Terry
Phenomenal 🐐
That is some performance tonight from Messi 🇦🇷⚽️
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