10 greatest quotes on Lionel Messi | OneFootball

Lionel Messi is perhaps the greatest footballer of all time.

It’s an arguable statement, of course, because everyone has their own personal belief about who is the greatest player to have kicked a ball around a field.

Some will say Diego Maradona, others Pele, fewer than ever will say Cristiano Ronaldo after his forced move to Saudi Arabia, but Messi will always be in the conversation.

The Argentina icon cemented his legacy in December, as he finally lifted that elusive World Cup in Qatar after winning the greatest ever final against France.

Some managers and pundits have run out of superlatives for the little magician, but here are the 10 best quotes on Lionel Messi that have ever been uttered.

Top 10 Greatest Quotes on Lionel Messi

10. Luis Figo

“For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure – it’s like having an orgasm – it’s an incredible pleasure.”

A little bit too much information from Figo here, but you’d have a hard time disagreeing if you support Barcelona, PSG or Argentina!

9. Javier Mascherano

“Although he may not be human, it’s good that Messi still thinks he is.”

Implying that Messi is from another planet has become the norm, given his ridiculous on-pitch abilities, and Mascherano should know; he’s shared a dressing room with him for both club and country.

8. Pele

“I like Messi a lot, he’s a great player. Technically, we’re practically at the same level.”

There you have it, the late Brazilian icon has even admitted that he and Messi are on the same level. Higher praise will be hard to find.

7. Hristo Stoichkov

“Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol. Today you need a machine gun to stop Messi.”

Well, this isn’t technically legal, but the Barcelona legend might just be right. Messi can dance between defences with terrifying ease.

6. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

“Who’s better, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Messi. Ronaldo is good, but Messi is 10 times better.”

The former Dutch striker bringing an end to the eternal debate here, insisting that Messi is leagues above Ronaldo.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

“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.”

It’s rare for Zlatan to speak in humble tones, but he clearly believes Messi is better than him!

4. Arsene Wenger

“Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi!”

The ex-Arsenal boss knows talent when he sees it, and he believes Messi will go down in the annals of history.

3. Johan Cruyff

“For the world of football, 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, or seven. He is incomparable. He’s in a different league.”

From one Barcelona icon to another, Cruyff was bang on in his prediction about Messi hoovering up individual awards.

2. Gianluigi Buffon

“Messi is a once-in-a-generation player. It’s unlikely that any human being will repeat his numbers.”

Ronaldo went pretty close, but Buffon is right that Messi has set a statistical benchmark that is unlikely to ever be surpassed.

1. Diego Maradona

“I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius.”

Few players would cope with the pressure of being anointed Maradona’s successor, by Maradona himself. Messi, somehow, managed it.

The best ever? Absolutely.