GOAT of football in Messi's eyes

Lionel Messi caused a stir in the football world with his humble response when asked directly: "Are you the GOAT - the greatest player of all time?"

For Messi, Maradona is the greatest legend.

In an interview with NBC Sports , when journalist Tom Llamas asserted, "You are the GOAT," Messi simply smiled, neither denying nor confirming it. Instead of talking about himself, the Argentinian star shifted his focus to the sports icons who have inspired him throughout his career.

"For us Argentinians, Diego Maradona will always be unique," Messi shared. "He is the greatest legend, not only because of his talent, but also because of what he represented for our nation. I was young when I watched him play, but Diego transcended the boundaries of football. He was something greater than borders and time."

Besides Maradona, Messi also mentioned other great names in world sports such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and three tennis legends: Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. This is how Messi perceives greatness, not through self-praise, but through respect for those who have reached the pinnacle of human achievement and willpower.

Regarding his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, in an interview with DSports , Leo once said: "I have great respect for Ronaldo and his career. We're not friends because we haven't had the chance to be close, but we always have great respect for each other."

The debate over "who is the GOAT" will probably never end. But one thing is clear: when called "the greatest," Messi doesn't need to nod in agreement. Because perhaps Leo's greatness has already been recognized by everyone.

Source: https://znews.vn/goat-bong-da-trong-mat-messi-post1597886.html