Lionel Messi is regarded by many as the world’s greatest soccer star. Right from his breakthrough period with Barcelona, many just knew how great he was going to become. It was so clear that Ronaldinho, a senior player at Barcelona at the time, predicted to Kobe Bryant that Messi would end up becoming the greatest soccer player ever.
Ronaldinho’s prophesy came to pass. Lionel Messi is the greatest player to have ever played the game, a status he sealed when he became a world champion with Argentina in 2022. Another former Barcelona teammate, Gerard Pique, took the time to explain why Messi is different from every other player he’s played with, including Cristiano Ronaldo, the Argentine’s eternal rival.
Gerard Pique hails Lionel Messi’s genius
Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi were formed in Barcelona’s famed youth academy La Masia. Although Pique left Barcelona to join up with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, fate brought them back, as Pique left United again for Barcelona in 2008, shortly after winning his first UCL trophy with the Manchester club.
During his time at Manchester United, Pique played with Cristiano Ronaldo, who was becoming one of the world’s best players at the time. Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 in his best season at Manchester United. Pique also played alongside Messi for years from 2008 to 2021, with the Spaniard revealing what made Lionel Messi different from other players.
“Leo Messi was another thing. Totally different from the rest. It’s true that in games, I can watch and see what he does, but in training, sometimes, I had to suffer him,” the former Barcelona defender revealed.
“I think that he was totally different from the rest I’ve seen. I had the opportunity to share a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. He was also very good; top level. He demonstrated in his whole career that he competed with Leo, related to the Ballon d’Or and all the trophies he won, but I think that Leo was something different,” he concluded.
Even though they now play in different leagues, Ronaldo and Messi are still eternal rivals. They share 13 Ballon d’Ors, with Ronaldo having five and Lionel Messi having eight, his last one coming last year. Meanwhile, Pique is not the only Barcelona star who voiced in favor of the Argentine in the GOAT debate.
Former Barcelona player chooses Lionel Messi over Ronaldo
The Ronaldo-Messi debate is the most popular debate in the world of sports. It’s bigger than whether or not LeBron James is greater than Michael Jordan. With Ronaldo being 39 and Messi nearing 37, the debate is still going stronger, and every once in a while, a former teammate or a legend in the game is asked who they think is better between these two sporting icons.
The latest player to be faced with such a question is Arturo Vidal, who played alongside Lionel Messi from 2018 to 2020. The Chilean played the game of “Winner Stays” with DSports, where he got to choose between two players until he found the one he liked better.
The challenge started with a picture of Neymar and Ronaldinho. Vidal didn’t hesitate in his answer, as he opted for Ronaldinho. He also chose Ronaldinho over Zinedine Zidane until he got to Cristiano Ronaldo. Vidal picked Ronaldo over Ronaldinho, but the next round brought the Portuguese star and Lionel Messi.
Vidal opted for his former Barcelona teammate, highlighting his appreciation for the World Cup winner. He still stuck with Messi even when pictures of fallen heroes Pele and Diego Maradona’s pictures popped up.
Is Lionel Messi’s legacy as the greatest player of all-time cemented for good? Share your thoughts with us below.
