Arsene Wenger (Coach, Arsenal) – “Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi!”
Diego Maradona (Ex Argentina) – “I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius and he can become an even better player.”
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) – “Messi is a Joke, for me the Best Ever!”
Pelé (Ex Brazil) – “At the moment, Messi is the Best!”
Juan Sebastian Veron (Ex Argentina) – “I see Maradona every time he grabs the ball and accelerates. We must protect him. I’d personally put him in a drawer of my bedside table.”
Ferrer (ex-Barcelona, Chelsea): “I played with Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Laudrup and Stoichkov but Messi is the best I’ve seen”
McDermott (Assistant Newcastle) – “For those asking i do think Messi is the best ever yes. Kenny was the best player i ever played with”
Eidur Gudjohnsen (ex-Chelsea, Barcelona) – “Messi’s control is the best I have ever seen, it is truly breathtaking.”
Krankl (ex-Barcelona) – “Messi is the world’s number 1. Cruyff was my youth idol, him and Messi are the best players I saw in my life.”
Rafael van der Vaart (Ex Tottenham) – “Best football player I played against? I think Messi. He killed us.”
Ivan Helguera (ex-Real Madrid) – “For me, Messi is the best player in history”
Joan Laporta (Ex President, Barcelona) – “Messi is the best player in the world right now and the best ever. Together with Cruyff and Maradona, he’s the best we’ve seen at the club.”
Klaas jan Huntelaar (Schalke) – “Who’s better, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Messi. Ronaldo is good, but Messi is ten times better.”
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) – “Messi won 3 Ballons d’Or and is competing for another one. He will be the best player in the world until he retires.”
Antonio Cassano (Ex AC Milan) – “Messi is the best player in the history of football, and that’s why I prefer Barça over Real Madrid.”
Arda Turan (Atléti, Ex Galatasaray,) – “Messi or Ronaldo best player in the world? In the world, I would say Ronaldo. Messi is from another planet.”
Sandro Rosell (Ex President, Barcelona) – “I think Barca will never have a player like Messi again. Messi’s greatness is present on and off the field of play.”
Roy Keane (Ex Manchester United) – “I was a big fan of Maradona growing up and of the current crop Ronaldo is good but 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.”
Bacary Sagna (Ex Arsenal) – “Best Player I played against? Messi, when he plays wide. He is the best in the world. Football seems easy when he plays it”
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) – “Although he may not be human, it’s good that Messi still thinks he is. Messi plays some another sport.”
Fabio Capello (Ex Coach, Juventus) -“In my entire life I have never seen a player of such quality and personality at such a young age, particularly wearing the ‘heavy’ shirt of one of the world’s great clubs.”
Raúl Gonzáles (Ex Real Madrid) – “The other day I saw one of his games. He was running with the ball at a hundred percent 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!”
Gerard Pique (Barcelona) -“It doesn’t matter where Messi plays, if it’s cold or hot, he always proves that he’s the best.”
Marcello Lippi (Ex Coach, Italy) – “The best? Messi”
Antonio Cassano (Ex AC Milan) – “Ronaldinho is better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but neither are as good as Leo Messi.”
Fernando Gago (Real Madrid) – “For me, the best in the world is Messi because of the way he plays, moves with the ball and changes matches, Messi has incredible ability and I love the way that he plays.”
Theirry Henry (Ex Arsenal, Barcelona) – “I have the possibility to watch Messi in training each morning, and because of what he demonstrates he is the best player in the world”
Arjen Robben (Ex Real Madrid) – “Messi is on another planet.”
Xavi Hernández (Barcelona) – “If he continues like this then I think Messi will be the best player in the history of football,”
Sir Alex Ferguson (Ex Coach, Manchester United) – “Critics have always questioned whether players like Pele from the 50s could play today. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players. Lionel Messi without question fits into that category.”
Paulo Maldini (Ex AC Milan) – “When I see Lionel Messi playing, I think he should win it (Ballon d’or) every year. I have no doubt. He is an unbelievable player”
Pep Guardiola (Ex Coach, Barcelona) – “It has been an honour to be the coach of the best player (Messi) I have ever seen and probably the best I will see”
Ryan Giggs (Ex Manchester United) – “He is probably the best player of the last 20 years. He is such a slippery player. Because of his height and quickness he is difficult to pin down and his balance is exceptional.”
Manuel Pellegrini (Ex Coach, Villarreal) – ”I don’t know the parameters for the Ballon d’Or. I only know that Messi deserves to win every trophy”
Marco van Basten (Ex AC Milan) – “There is no doubt about it, Messi’s clearly the best player in the world. He’s a phenomenon who has already won everything, but is still hungry for more. His humbleness only makes him greater”
John Terry (Chelsea) – “For me, Lionel Messi is quite clearly the best player ever. It’s a pleasure to put myself against him and when I finish my career it’s something I can look back on and know I’ve tested myself against the very best.”
Vicente Del Bosque (Coach, Spain) – “Messi or Ronaldo? I prefer Messi because he is more of a street player.”
Zinedine Zidane (Ex France, Real Madrid) – “Messi makes the difference most of the time. In particular, he 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.”
Filipe Scolari (Ex Coach, Portugal) – “The only bad thing about Ronaldo’s life is Messi. If it was not for him, Ronaldo would be the best player in the world for five years in a row.”
Robin Dutt (Coach, Bayer Leverkusen) – “You won’t see anyone else like Messi. People said that Di Stefano, Maradona and Cruyff were the best when they were playing. And now it is the same for Messi. He is on the throne and it is down to him how long he stays there.”
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) – “Ronaldo is good but I am #TeamMessi all day everyday! Everyone is allowed 1 bad game in 300 right?”
Radamel Falcao (Athletico Madrid) – “Is Messi a real player or a Play Station character?”
Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona) – “It is very simple, Messi is the best in the world, and if you give him a little bit of space, he can do whatever he wants.”
Gheorghe Hagi (ex-Madrid -Barcelona) – “Messi or Cristiano? Cristiano Ronaldo is very good, but I prefer Messi. He’s incredible.”
Joey Barton (Queens Park Rangers) – “Messi is the best that’s played the game. Streets ahead of Maradona.”
Sid Lowe (Editor, Guardian) – “To compare Lionel Messi to anybody else is unfair on them”
Jorde Valdano (Ex Real Madrid) – “I believe that we have the first genius of the 21st century, Leo Messi.”
Michael Owen (Ex Liverpool) – “I can’t believe anyone can have played the game of football as well as Messi.”
Franz Beckenbauer (Ex Germany) – “Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona’s.”
Manuel Almunia (Arsenal) – “Messi is very skilful and can do whatever he wants at any moment. He’s the best player in the world.”
Ronaldo (Brazil) – “There is no doubt that Messi is the best player in the world.”
Hristo Stoichkov (Ex Barcelona) – “Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol but today you need a machine gun to stop Messi.”
Romario (Ex Brazil) – “Messi has all the conditions to be the best.”
Oliver Kahn (Ex Germany) – “Messi is undoubtedly a gifted footballer, like Maradona and Pele, and he’s playing for the best club side in the world at the moment. He’s successful and he’s winning trophies, so it’s only logical that he’ll be voted the best player in the world.”
Thiago Silva (Brazil) – “Messi is a special player, certainly the best attacker I’ve played against to date, but I think comparing players from different generations is difficult. All I know is that he’s spectacular and already is definitely among the best ever.”
Michel Platini (President, UEFA) – “Messi is the great player of this generation, like there were great players in other generations.”
Alessandro Pato (Brazil) – “When Messi plays, he is the best.”
Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao) – “I’m not sure Messi is a human.”
Ganso (Brazil) – “Without doubt he is on another planet, because he does things others can’t.”
Luis Figo (Ex Portugal) – “For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure – it’s like having an orgasm – it’s an incredible pleasure.”
Thiago Alacantara (Barcelona) – “We can give him the ball and we can stand back and watch him. People often say to me they saw Pele and Maradona play. In the future, I will be able to say I saw Messi play.”
Ruud Gullit (Ex Netherlands) – “He is already the best in the world. He is an exceptional talent. I still think Diego Maradona is the best player I have ever seen, but Messi is closing in fast. He’s a wonderful sight in full flight and we are lucky to have him around.”
Luis Figo (Ex Inter) – “Player I would like to sign for Internazionale? It’s easy, the strongest in Europe at the moment is Lionel Messi, so I would say him. Messi has amazing qualities, he is the best of all, number one. That is
unquestiionable.”
Johan Cruyff (Ex Barcelona) – “For the world of football, Messi is a treasure because he is role model for children around the world.”
Maxi Rodriguez (Ex Liverpool) – “There is no doubt, you’re from another galaxy. Thanks Leo”
Demba Ba (Newcastle United) – “Is Messi a human being?????”
John Heitinga (Everton) – “Mejores jugador del Mundo Messi! Best player in the World!”
Gary Linekar (Ex England) – “Fella’s a genius! Best ever by a distance in my life time! Never really saw Pelé. Wait til he grows up! Souness, Gullit, Venables and now Rooney agree Messi is the best they have seen. He plays a game to which we are not familiar.”
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – “Is Messi the best player of all times?”
Mano Meneses (Ex Coach, Brazil) – “Messi? We will play against the best in the world.”
Johan Cruyff (Ex Barcelona) – “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.”
Rio Ferdinand (Ex Manchester United) – “Who were the best players I had ever played against? Raul, Messi, Zidane.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG) : “Messi is more naturally gifted than Ronaldo. Messi does not need his right foot, though. 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!”
Rivaldo (Ex Brazil) – “Between Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, I go with Messi. For me he is the best in the World.”
Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers) – “I wear Number 10 Jersey for the US National Team in honor of the Greatest athlete i have ever seen, Messi.”
Miguel Angel Lotina (Ex Coach, Deportivo) – “Comparing Cristiano to Messi is an exercise of ignorance in football. Messi is Messi and others, footballers.”
Radomir Antic (Coach, Serbia) – “Messi is the Mozart of football.”
John Carlin (Journalist, Argentina) – “Messi is much more than being clever. He is a genius who reserves all his expressiveness for football.”
Mario Balotelli (Ex Manchester City) – “There’s only one that is a little stronger than me: Messi. All the othersare behind me.”
Massimo Moratti (President, Inter Milan) – “Messi is the only player for whom I would go crazy.”
Antonio Lobo Antunes (Writer, Portugal) – “There are 3 or 4 important things in life: Books, Friends, Women……and Messi.”
Bar Rafaeli (Model, Israel) – “At this point I’m starting to believe that Messi is tightly related to Clark Kent.”
*Clark Kent is the Secret Identity of Fictional Character Superman.
Yaya Touré (Ex Barcelona) – “Cristiano Ronaldo has done massive things in both the Premier League and in the Champions League, but Messi is the best though and I am convinced that next year he will win the Ballon d’Or.”
Gerd Müller (Ex Bayern Munich) – “Technically, Messi is superb. His goals are brilliant. And despite being a genius, he’s not a selfish player”
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) – “Messi is the best player in the world, no doubts. But we hope that in the games against us, he won’t be the best player.”
Gerard Pique (Barcelona) – “It feels good to be in the same generation as him. I believe he’s the best player in the history of the sport.”
Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich) – “I am not crazy enough to compare myself with Messi because he is the best there ever was and the best there will ever be.”
Terry McDermot (Ex Liverpool) – “Messi is the best ever. I played in a great Liverpool team of the late 70s and early 80s which ruled Europe but imust say i think this Barcelona team would batter us.”
Donovan (USA) – “Lionel Messi, you know what right now? Just call him the best.”
Nemanja Vidic (Ex Manchester United) -“I think Messi is the best forward in the world. It is very difficult to play against him. But he is not only a forward, he is moving everywhere. He is a very good player.”
Juninho (Brazil) – “Barcelona are the best team in Europe and for that reason, they are the favourites. In addition, they have the best player in the world today, Lionel Messi.”
Galliani (Vice President Milan) – “Messi is the best player ever. And this is said by someone who has seen Maradona and Pele play.”
Gerry Armstrong (Ex Tottenham) – “I have played against (Michel) Platini, (Diego) Maradona, (Johan) Cruyff and played with George Best — a lot of big names, but none of them has been able to do what Messi does. Two years ago I said that the best player I played against was Maradona and the best player I have played with was Bestie. But I can now say I have never seen a player as good as Messi. He’s in a league of his own.”
Andy Cole (Ex Manchester United) – “Regular readers will know I’m a fan of (Cristiano) Ronaldo, and an even bigger fan of the man who’s assumed his mantle with quite astonishing success, Wayne Rooney. But Messi is on a higher plain than even that pair.”
Manzano (Coach, Mallorca) – “How to stop Messi? You need to bring a shotgun, pam-pam and that’s it.”
Lotina (Coach, Deportiva La Coruna)– “For a long time, for many years I have been saying that he [Messi] is the best I’ve ever seen. For me he is the most complete player I have ever seen and he is better than Maradona.”
David Beckham (LA Galaxy) – Messi is one of the best players I’ve played against and also one of the finest players I’ve ever seen.”
Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) –
“He told me someone else was coming to dinner and all of sudden Messi walked in. He looked so small so insignificant, and yet to
me he was the world’s greatest player. For a moment, I wasn’t even able to speak.”
Billy Beane (American Baseball Player) – “You know, I’d actually say Lionel Messi. He’s so remarkable, watching him play he’s probably still undervalued. When you’re scoring five goals in one Champions League match, there’s no value that’s too high.”
Pochettino (Ex Argentina)– “What Messi brings to a team, no other player can bring. Messi can break a match wide open.”
Di Stefano (Ex Real Madrid) – “I am also amazed with Messi, what he is doing is very good. He contributes alot of very good things for the team. He is an individualist, but he always plays for the team.He covers well at the back, is organized and finishes well with both feet. He is mischievous, and is a very intelligent player. He applies pressure just where the pressure is needed.”
Novak Djokovic (Serbian Tennis Player) – “Messi is the best player on the planet and he keeps on improving at Barça, now the best team in the world. What Messi does on and off the pitch is an inspiration for children who dream of becoming a footballer.”
Sir Bobby Charlton (Ex Manchester United) – “I think now Messi is probably done more than most players. But he is in the same class as Alfredo de Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Pelé. When he finishes and he retires, he will automatically become one of them. A player that people will talk about forever, while the game of football is as good and as popular as it is. He is a sensational player.”
Van Nistelrooy (ex-Man United) – “With great Respect & Admiration I congratulate Leo Messi & Gerd Muller for their amazing achievements.”
Gerd Müller (Ex Bayern Munich) – “My record stood for 40 years and now the best player in the world has broken it. I’m happy for him. Messi is fantastic. An incredible player, a giant. And such a nice and modest guy. Only one defect: he doesn’t play at Bayern.”
Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) – “Respect Lionel Messi!!!”
Joey Barton (Ex Marseille) – “Messi. 86 goals in calendar year and still 3 games to play! Best to ever play the game in my opinion just edges Maradona.”
Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund) – “86 Goals in 2012 – Leo Messi magic!”
Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG) – “Congratulations, Leo Messi!! New record for the best in the world! A big hug”
Alex Morgan (US Women’s NT, Ballon d’Or 2012 Nominee) – “Messi is out of this world. Scoring 86 goals this year… In 2012. What an incredible accomplishment”
Pepe Mel (Coach Real Betis) – “I prefer Messi plays, you want to see the best players on the pitch. But I’m not stupid, he’s the best in the world.”
Sabella (Ex Coach, Argentina) – “Messi is the best in the world, almost a player from another planet. It’s very difficult to find words for Leo.”
Michel Platini (President, UEFA) – “Don’t know this year or next, but Messi will win 4th Ballon d’Or and surpass Cruyff, Van Basten and me.”
Carlos Bianchi (Ex Coach Velez -Boca -Atletico): “Lionel Messi is the best player of all times.”
Javier Hernandez (Manchester United) – “Greatest footballer I have ever played with or against? Against Messi”
Toni Schumacher (ex-Koln -Fenerbahce) – “Football keeps producing icons who shape an era. In my day it was Maradona, and now it’s Messi. He achieves the unbelievable on the field, and all at the highest pace you can imagine.”
Harry Redknapp (Coach, QPR) – “Lionel Messi is the most amazing player I have ever seen.”
Caniggia (ex-Atalanta, ex-Boca) – “This is the era of Messi, period. He’s very creative, always finds new ways to deal with his opponents.”
Juanlu (Levante) – “You can only stop Messi if he watches the game from the stands.”
Usain Bolt (Sprinter) – “Messi or Cristiano – Speed? Cristiano. Shot? Cristiano. Dribbling? Messi. Intelligence? Messi. Talent? Messi. Winner is Messi!”
Pachin (ex-Real Madrid) – “I love Messi, I think he will break all records. I’m envious he doesn’t play with us, at Madrid.”
Buffon (Juvetus) – “Messi is a once in a generation player. It’s unlikely that any human being will repeat his numbers.”
Hitzfeld (Ex-Coach Bayern Munich) – “Messi is, together with Pele, one of the best that ever lived. Breaking Muller’s record was a matter of time.”
David Moyes (Ex Coach Everton) – “Messi is the world’s best and gets physically attacked every game but all he ever does is get up and get on with it.”
Diego Simeone (Coach, Athletico Madrid) – “Diego (Maradona) has filled us with emotions. But between the cracks, without doubt, Messi is better than Maradona.”
Vitor Baia (ex-Porto) – “Messi is marking a decade. He’s on his way to become one of the best in history, maybe best ever.”
Mario Jorge Zagallo (Ex Coach, Brazil) – “Messi is the best player in the world because of what he has done and is doing with Barcelona.”
Sandro Mazzola (European Cup 1964-65) – “Messi’s control and technique while going at full speed is unique in the world.”
Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb) – “Messi deserves it (Ballon d’or) and I’m 100% behind him. He’s the best player of all time and if he stays fit he will continue for the next five or six years. The things he does right now are out of this world.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Ex Real Madrid) – “Messi is on a different level. The fact he is doing what he is year after year says that he is the best of all time.”
Shay Given (Ex Goal Keeper, Ireland) – “Who do I think will win the FIFA Ballon d’or (2012) in Zurich today? Lionel Messi. Best player ever to grace this planet.”
Alfio Basile (Ex Coach, Boca Juniors) – “You cannot compare anyone to Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great human footballer, but Messi is a Martian.”
Robbie Fowler (ex-Liverpool) – “The best player EVER (Leo Messi) without a shadow, if you didn’t think/know already…”
Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)– “Congrats to Messi! Wow, 4 yrs in a row! Added something else to his list of ‘only person to..’ Is Messi Best Of All Time?”
Gary Neville (Ex Man.United) – “This Guy (Messi) is the Best Player in the World, no doubt about that. I think we’re always nervous about calling people who are currently playing, who are young at 23, to say he’s the Best Player ever. But we shouldn’t be. We should admit what we are seeing in front of our eyes. This is a special talent, who may be is the Best Player ever been seen.”
Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) – “Lionel Messi has to win tonight’s Ballon d’Or. He’s simply the Best. Decision should be unanimous.”
Eric Cantona (Ex Manchester United) – “Messi, he’s exceptional. When you watch him, you feel there’s a child inside him and he is making some childhood dream come true. He’s a Great Player, not only for today but also tomorrow.”
Graeme Souness (Ex Liverpool) – “Lionel Messi is the Best Player Ever.”
Pelé (Ex Brazil) – “I like Messi a lot, he’s a great player. Technically, we’re practically at the same level.”
Jürgen Klopp (Coach, Dortmund,LIVERPOOL) – “Messi is the Best. There must be life out there somewhere, on some other planet. Because he is too good and we are just too bad for him.”
Adriano Galliani (AC Milan Vice President) – “Messi is the best player of all time. Better than Pele, better than Maradona and better than anyone else.”
Samuel Eto’o (Ex Barcelona) – “Messi is God, as a person and even more as a player. I knew him when he was a boy and I’ve watched him grow. He deserves it all. I hope that he can win the World Cup with Argentina. He’s a good boy and I wish him all the best”.
Romario (Ex Brazil) – “Newton and Einstein had a certain level of autism — I hope that like them, Messi surpasses himself every day and continues to give us his beautiful brand of football.”
Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal) – “The greatest player in the world. He’s got a fantastic vision of the game, and what he can do technically — it’s crazy.”
LeBron James (Basketball player, Miami Heats) – “Messi is the best player in the world. If he’s not already, he’ll be the best footballer of all time.”
Bradley Johnson (Norwich City) – “Lionel Messi was made in a laboratory, he’s not human.”
Ray Hudson (Commentator) – “They tell me that all men are equal in God’s eyes, this player (Messi) makes you seriously think about those words. ”
Harry Redknapp (Ex Coach, Tottenham) – “You couldn’t put a value on him, he’s on another planet. For me, Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the No.1 player in the world.”
Carlos Tévez (Juventus) – “My ideal trident would be myself alongside Rooney and Messi. They are the players who make me dream — not Cristiano.”
Tito Vilanova (Ex Coach, Barcelona) – “Messi the best player in the world by far. I don’t think we’ll ever see a player like him again.”
Xavi Hernández (Barcelona) – “It is clear that Messi is on a level above all others. Those who do not see that are blind.”
David Moyes (Ex Coach, Everton) – “Lionel Messi gets kicked every week. It’s the only way to stop him. But all he ever does is smile, get up & get on with it.”
Erik Lamela (Tottenham) – “Leo deserves the Ballon d’Or — he’s the best player in the world. As a person he’s very modest, both on the field and off it.”
Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich) – “Messi is class. There is him, and then there is the rest. What he does is extraordinary. He demands admiration.”
Diego Alves (Valencia) – “Messi makes the difference. He does everything so well and manages to do it at such an unstoppable pace.”
Pedro Pinto (Anchor, CNN) – “Messi is unstoppable and we should feel privileged to be watching a player who may be the best of all time. The best and most exciting footballer on the planet.”
Juan Pablo Varsky (Journalist, La Nación) – “I saw Maradona play extraordinary matches. I followed his career live, for me Messi is the best of Diego, every single day.”
Jürgen Klopp (Coach, Dortmund) – “Cristiano reminds me of German tennis player Michael Stich. He was destined to make history, but then Boris Becker showed up. Cristiano is so fast, so strong, so incredible, but he has one problem: Leo Messi.”
Niklas Moisander (Ajax) – “Messi is unbelievable. It is great to get the chance to play against the best in the world. It doesn’t really need repeating: he is a fantastic player.”
Jagoba Arrasate (Coach, Real Sociedad) – “Leo Messi the best in the world. He has 1,000 ways of beating you. It’s easy to talk to the players about stopping Messi, but doing it is much harder. ”
Eduardo Galeano (Uruguayan Writer) – “I like Messi because he doesn’t think he’s Messi.”
Alex Song (West Ham United)– “I think this guy is fantastic. He’s the best player I have ever seen in my life. He’s just unbelievable. Messi is up here [stretches his arm up high] and everyone else is below. Let’s just say it’s a big gap. A very big gap. The thing I like about Leo is he is so hungry — he wants to win everything. He’s won everything but still wants to win more. He’s a great guy. The way he manages himself to try and improve himself is a great example to other players and young boys.”
Carles Puyol (Ex Barcelona) – “There’s a special part of Messi’s brain allowing him to see the split-second chaos in his own personal super slow motion.”
Alessandro Del Piero (Ex Juventus) – “Messi on the World Cup 2014? He showed why he is the best player in the world. It was a pleasure to see him play.”
Ronald de Boer (Ex Ajax) – “There can be replicas of some players, like @Cristiano for example. The Portuguese is good, but Messi is simply the best!”
Frank de Boer (Coach, Ajax) – “You have to be very attentive to what he is up to. He has quick touches and in two seconds he can be in front of the goal. He always looks to make his own space — he’s difficult to mark. As a team we can stop him, but we have to mark him tightly.”
Tata Martino (Ex Coach, Barcelona) – “Leo’s passes are sensational. He sees passing lines you normally can only see from the stands, or your home.”
Fabio Capello (Ex Coach, Juventus – “If you’re speaking of a fantasy player, then it has to be Leo Messi as he’s so unpredictable. He’s an absolute genius.”
Santiago Solari (Ex Real Madrid) – “What’s really incredible is his consistency. It’s practically inhuman to keep going like him. What Messi has achieved, far outweighs what Cristiano has done.”
Luol Deng (Miami Heat) – “Whoever Barcelona are playing, you’re just interested to watch because Messi’s playing.”
Robert Snodgrass (Hull City – “We’re all going to look back in 15 to 20 years time and say we were lucky enough to watch Messi play.”
Carmen Zarraonandia (daughter of Telmo Zarra) – “I’m sure my father would’ve liked Leo — he seems like a noble person. His behaviour is laudable.”
Lee Clayton (Journalist, Daily Mail) – “Messi is a beautiful footballer, with balance and mesmerising dribbling skills.”
Matt Lawton (Journalist, Daily Mail) – “Messi or Cristiano? “Messi — He does things with more finesse, it’s a tad more pleasing on the eye. The most outrageously gifted footballer of the generation. A delight to see him perform. He offers a reminder that football’s soul resides in the streets, not the gym or the lab. Wit, artistry & imagination against pace & power. It’s about playing for pleasure, not posing for fame.”
Graeme Souness (Ex Liverpool) – “His change of direction is incredible, he just wrong foots people for fun. He makes defenders look slow, look ponderous. He makes them look stupid at times.”
Michael Laudrup (Ex Barcelona, Ex Real Madrid)– “The Messi of the early years was a phenomenon, but he always wanted to finish off the move. Now he goes past one, two or three players and is happy to give an assist to a teammate, it makes him more dangerous than ever before.”
Del Piero (Ex-Juventus): “Messi is the real deal when it comes to Number 10s. He represents a type of football that transcends borders.”
Carlo Ancelotti (coach Real Madrid): “Casillas saying he wouldn’t sign Messi for Madrid? Messi has a place in every team in the world.”
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid): “Toughtest opponent I faced? Eto’o always paid us back and drove us to despair. And Messi scored every game.”
Cesc Fàbregas (Chelsea): “Messi is the best in the world. Cristiano is a goalscorer. Messi is more taltented, more complete, tactically and footballwise. Cristiano isn’t doing those runs anymore like at United. Messi takes more part in the game, I’d always prefer him in my team.”
Dybala (Palermo): “Top player I’d like to play with or against? First name that comes to mind is obviously Messi, he’s the best.”
Gary Lineker (Ex-England): “Messi doesn’t have to do it in the Premier League to prove himself. The Champions League is the ultimate club competition. If he was in the Premier League, he’d be the best player by some distance.”
Julio Salinas (Ex Spain): “If Gary Lineker is saying that Messi is making him realise just how sh*t he was — then imagine how the rest of us feel.”
Roger Bennett (Joutnalist): “Best player in the world? Messi. Second best player in world? Messi with a dodgy hamstring.”
Mikael Lustig (Celtic): “Kicking Messi? Of course you sometimes have to resort to such tricks to stop his rampage.”
Zlatan Ibrahimović (PSG): “PSG’s project is to dream bigger, but if you buy Messi, you don’t dream bigger — you are bigger!”
Jozy Altidore (USA): “I’m convinced that all of those UFO sightings are really Messi taking off and landing in his ride. He is an alien.”
David Silva (Manchester City): “My dream XI. Upfront I’d choose Messi. For me he’s the all-time best player.”
Lucas Moura (PSG): “Messi is an example for me — he’s my idol, along with Zidane.”
Pep Guardiola (Coach, Bayern): “Leo broke a record that everyone thought was unbreakable. It will take 600+ years before his La Liga scoring record is broken.”
David Villa (Ex-Barça): “Messi does incredible things, his stats make you cover your eyes. He cannot be compared to anyone.”
David Luiz (PSG): “Barça were better than us — they have three huge forwards. Messi is fantastic, the best player ever.”
Edinson Cavani (PSG): “Messi has been the best player in the world for the last 7 years. He doesn’t talk, doesn’t complain, he just plays football.”
Graham Hunter (Writer): “The expression I like best was from Puyol, when he said Leo Messi sees everything in slow-motion. Things that nobody else can do. It’s just happening so slow for him. He’s just controlling & drifting through. And what we see is in hyper speed.”
Marcelino (Ex Mallorca): “Messi is a fantastic dribbler. I don’t think there’s a better dribbler than him in the history of football. And also at the pace at which he dribbles. How many goals have we’ve seen him dribbling 3-4-5 players in a row and finishing it with fantastic quality and calmness. He buys a lot of time with his pace. That time gives him, allows him to see things others can’t.”
Ernesto Valverde (Coach, Athletic Club): “Messi is, from the technical point of view, the perfection of the game.”
Nacho Monreal (Arsenal): “Hardest player to contain, of those I’ve come up against? Messi, obviously. It’s almost impossible to get the ball off him.”
Luol Deng (Miami Heat): “Best team player? As good as Lebron James is, I have to go with Messi. What he’s doing, he’s on pace to becoming the best ever.”
José Luis Chilavert (Ex Paraguay): “Messi is the greatest player of all-time. He’s already surpassed Maradona, Pele, Di Stéfano, Johan Cruyff & Zidane.”
Jurgen Klinsmann (Ex Germany): “Lionel Messi is very much the team player, while Cristiano is very ego-driven.”
Mario Götze (Germany): “Messi has achieved so many things and has set the bar so high that it is nearly impossible to reach his level for anyone.”
Henrik Larsson (Ex Sweden): “Cristiano is unlucky to be playing in the same era as Messi. Ronaldo is a very good player, but Messi is even better.”
Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers): “I’ve been watching Messi for some time now, and his ability to decide games and keep possession of the ball is amazing.”
Esquivel (Cuban poet): “Messi saved football. There has never been such an overwhelming, devastating, decisive and unique player.”
Radamal Falcao (when Messi scored 5 goals against Leverkusen): “Was it a game of #UCL or was Messi in a Play Station game? Impossible! If he scores 6 goals, can he take home 2 balls?”
Carles Puyol (Ex Barcelona): “There’s a special part of Messi’s brain allowing him to see the split-second chaos of football in his own personal super slow motion.”
Jordi Roura (Ex Assistant Coach, Barcelona): “When you see Messi play, what he does looks so easy — but if you stop and think about it for a moment, it really is crazy.”
Gheorghe Hagi (Ex Romania): “He’s eager to win and to be the best, and off the field he’s honest and modest. He’s an example to youngsters.”
Harry Redknapp (Ex England): “The lad is surprisingly strong and can turn a game with his incredible acceleration before applying a world-class finish. You can’t kick Messi out of a game — he rides tackles like a thoroughbred horse.”
Sacha Kljestan (USA): “Messi is the king of team sports. You know how much I love basketball, but Messi is on another level.”
Marcial Pina (Ex Spain): “Messi is the best player I’ve ever seen. Better than Maradona and Johan Cruyff together.”
GaryLineker: “Messi always makes the right decision, whether it’s a pass or a finish. He’s a little genius.”
José Mourinho (Coach, Chelsea): “The only way to stop Messi is to double mark him. One player to stay on him and the other to help out.”
Garath McCleary (Reading): “It’s scary the difference one player can make. Messi is frightening.”
Fran Escribá (Coach, Elche): “Messi is so good that he can even get around the 3 players you send after him & still notice the 2 teammates he has in space. I’ve never seen a better player than Leo Messi and I don’t know if I ever will. He’s simply the best.”
Alan Shearer (Ex England): “He creates his goals from absolutely nothing — more so than anyone that I’ve ever seen.”
César Luis Menotti (Ex Coach, Argentina): “Messi and Neymar will create beauty — just like Picasso’s paint brush. I still believe Messi is the best in the world. He has a special magic and is more of a team player than Cristiano.
Never before has there been such a difference between the King and the next.”
Fabio Capello (Ex Coach, Real Madrid): “Cristiano is an explosive type of player, with great technique, but he’s still not as gifted as Messi in my opinion. Messi is more of a genius than Cristiano. Cristiano is so strong physically, so powerful, but Messi has more creativity.”
Francesco Totti (AS Roma): “There is only one player who is doing things that I could never do — and that is Messi.”
Inés Sainz (Mexican Journalist): “His goals, unbelievable dribbling & fantastic passes seem like a story of never-ending magic that he gifts us in every game.”
Cesar Luis Menotti (ex-coach Argentina -Barcelona): “What Messi does is terrifying. It’s indescribable magic. You can’t analyze it.”
Paul Scholes (Ex Manchester United): “I am not ashamed to admit that in the games against Barcelona I spent a lot of the time just hoping he would take up positions as far away from me as possible. Elusive is the word that immediately springs to mind when I think about Messi’s style of play. You think you have an eye on him and then – blink – he has gone, only to reappear somewhere else in space, with the ball.”
Rodolfo Borrell (Technical Director, Manchester City): “Messi is from another galaxy. Fans get used to it, but what he does is not normal. Never seen before.”
Frank Lampard (Manchester City): “As far as I see it you just can’t give Messi space in the dangerous areas – we have to close him down, get tight and give him as little room as we can because if you don’t, he can destroy you.”
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