Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Phil Foden, the emerging talent at Manchester City, dreams of spending a day fishing with Lionel Messi. He has idolized Messi since childhood and envisions a conversation with him as the best day of his life. Foden stated, “If I were to spend the entire day fishing, and if I could take anyone along, I would go fishing with Lionel Messi.”
Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin de Bruyne believes that Messi’s arrival at Manchester City would be a game-changer. He views Messi as the greatest player of all time, from both a footballing and a club perspective. De Bruyne emphasizes the financial and sponsorship benefits Messi’s presence would bring to the club. De Bruyne said, “If Messi comes, he will benefit Manchester City because, in my opinion, he is the greatest player of all time.”
Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
For Julian Alvarez, playing alongside Messi is a dream come true. He admires Messi not only as a football icon but also as a role model who exemplifies excellence on and off the field. Alvarez shared, “Playing football with Messi is the greatest experience.”
Sadio Mane (Al Nassr)
Sadio Mane acknowledges Messi and Ronaldo as football giants and aspires to reach their level. He considers Messi and Ronaldo as his idols and is determined to do whatever it takes to get closer to their skill level. Mane said, “Messi and Ronaldo are monsters.”
Neymar Junior (Al Hilal)
Neymar, who has had the privilege of playing with Messi, hails him as one of the greatest players of all time. He shares how learning from Messi, both on and off the field, has strengthened him and enriched his football journey. Neymar also admires Cristiano Ronaldo, referring to him as a football “monster.” Neymar expressed, “Playing with Messi, for me, he is one of the greatest players of all time.”
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Lautaro Martinez praises Messi as the ultimate global superstar for several years. He highlights Messi’s contributions to the Argentine national team and describes him as the best player globally. Lautaro feels honored to be Messi’s teammate. Martinez stated, “For me, Messi is the best player in the world for many years.”
Alphonso Davies (Bayern München)
Alphonso Davies is a lifelong fan of Lionel Messi. He shares a heartwarming anecdote about Messi giving him his jersey and how it felt like a dream come true to compete against his idol in the Champions League. Davies exclaimed, “It’s amazing. I get to play in the Champions League, go up against one of my favorite players in the world. It’s unbelievable.”
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
Frenkie de Jong openly admits that Messi was one of the main reasons he joined Barcelona. He expresses his admiration for Messi, who has been the best player in the world for an incredible 15 years. De Jong also reveals, “I admired Messi from a young age. It’s truly special to play on the same field with him.”
Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
Scott McTominay humorously recalls his attempt to acquire Messi’s jersey. “I said to Sergio Romero, ‘please, can you ask Messi if I can have his shirt?’ Sergio turned back and said, ‘Messi thinks you’ve fouled him.’ I said, ‘No, no – tell him it wasn’t me. So, get me that shirt and I’ll hang it in my bedroom.’ Messi then realized it wasn’t me.”
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
A French star known for his prowess, Pogba expresses his admiration for Messi. “I’m delighted to compete with him because I’ll learn a lot. Barcelona boasts exceptional players, but above all, Messi is extraordinary, surpassing everyone else,” Pogba states.
Mason Greenwood (Getafe)
Mason Greenwood holds Messi in higher esteem than even the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. “For me, it’s always Messi. He’s from a different planet. Ronaldo is undoubtedly amazing, a phenomenal footballer. But to achieve what Messi has achieved on his scale – for Barcelona and achieving titles with Argentina – he operates on a different level,” Greenwood affirms.
Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
“It’s really challenging. You know, Luis Figo was my first football idol. However, I would also be very happy to play alongside Lionel Messi at Chelsea. I wish I could have the opportunity to be on the same team with both Figo and M10 (Messi) at the same time.”
These testimonials from some of the world’s finest footballers highlight the profound impact Lionel Messi has on the footballing world. His influence goes beyond the pitch, serving as an inspiration to the next generation of football stars who aspire to reach the same heights of greatness.
