Lionel Messi Finally Speaks After He Was Asked About Whom the Greatest Footballer in History Is

Lionel Messi Finally Speaks After He Was Asked About Whom the Greatest Footballer in History Is

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:52 PM
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  • Lionel Messi scooped his seventh Ballon d’Or title on Monday November 29, which has generated debate among football fans
  • While many applaud the Argentine star for the achievement, many believe the 2021 edition should have been handed to Robert Lewandowski
  • As fans continue to brand Messi as the greatest of all time, the former Barcelona captain has stated that he does not know whom the greatest it

Argentine legend Lionel Messi has stated emphatically that he had never tried to terms with being branded as the greatest of all time, SPORTbible reports.

The 34-year-old bagged his seventh Ballon d’Or title which reignited the debate among fans as regards whom the greatest footballer is.

Football fans are split on either side of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, as the pair have now shared 12 Ballon d’Or titles between themselves.

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi says he does not know whom the greatest footballer is. Photo: Lionel Hahn
Source: Getty Images

So far, Messi has scored nine goals for club and country this season and has now said he does not know whom the greatest footballer is.

What did Messi say?

The former Barcelona captain told France Football:

"I never said, thought, or even tried to come to terms with this idea [of being the greatest].
"For me, just being able to be considered or cited as one of the best players in the world is more than enough. It is something that I would never have dared to imagine or dream of.
"But... I don't know how to put it so that it's not misinterpreted. It's not that I'm not interested in it, but, let's say that I don't not give much importance to all that.
"It doesn't change anything for me to be the best or not. And I never tried to be either."

Ronaldo backs claims that Messi ‘stole’ the 2021 Ballon d’Or

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has taken to social media to back a claim that Lionel Messi stole the 2021 Ballon d’or from him and Robert Lewandowski.

Lionel Messi was handed a seventh Ballon d’Or title on Monday night, November 29, but fans have blasted France Football for ignoring Robert Lewandowski.

And a five-time recipient of the same award, Ronaldo, who garnered 435 votes to finish sixth has commented ‘facts’ underneath a post detailing why the Manchester United star should have won it.

Guardiola blasts Messi’s critics over 2021 Ballon d’Or

Legit.ng earlier reported that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has expressed disappointment at critics who claim Lionel Messi should not have been awarded the 2021 Ballon d’Or, Sport Skeeda reports.

But Guardiola who managed Messi during their time at Spanish club Barcelona insisted that no one can say it was unfair that the award went to Messi.

With Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski missing out on the coveted prize last year, many claim the Polish striker should have been handed the award.

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Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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