Lionel Messi called an English icon a “once in a generation player” and claimed that there was “nobody like him” in world football.
The Argentine is regarded as the greatest footballer of all time by many, beginning his professional career back in 2004 at the age of 17.
After Ronaldinho set up Messi’s first goal in a Barcelona shirt, he has gone on to break numerous records and is the most decorated player in the history of professional football with 45 team honours.
On a personal note, no player has won more than his eight Ballon d’Or titles, while he has also been named FIFA’s world’s best player on eight occasions. Messi’s first Ballon d’Or crown came in 2009 and his last was in 2023, a year on after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.
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Years Messi has won the Ballon d’Or |
Club |
|---|---|
|
2009 |
Barcelona |
|
2010 |
Barcelona |
|
2011 |
Barcelona |
|
2012 |
Barcelona |
|
2015 |
Barcelona |
|
2019 |
Barcelona |
|
2021 |
Barcelona |
|
2023 |
Inter Miami |
Messi named Brazilian striker Ronaldo as his favourite ever player, and he has also named his 10 favourite teammates, all of which played alongside him at the Nou Camp.
Lionel Messi’s 10 favourite teammates in pictures:
The iconic attacker has also come up against several English stars in his career, and one in particular stood out.
Messi: Wayne Rooney was “special” and a “once in a generation player”
One player who Messi came up against on several occasions was Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. The England striker is the Red Devils’ record scorer with 253 goals, but Messi broke Rooney’s heart twice in the Champions League.
Messi scored in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals at the Stadio Olimpico and Wembley Stadium, with Barca lifting the European crown on both occasions. Rooney scored Man Utd’s goal in the 3-1 defeat at Wembley, and he was a player who caught the eye of Messi during his career.
Talking back in 2015, Messi hailed Rooney after the striker became England’s all-time leading goal-scorer with his 50th international goal.
That tally has since been surpassed by Harry Kane, however, Messi called Rooney “a once in a generation player” and that there was “nobody like him”.
“Wayne Rooney is for me a once in a generation player. One of those special players, who is not comparable to any other. There are many special players, but Rooney has exceptional quality and technical ability as well as being one of the strongest players I have faced with an exceptional work rate – there is nobody like him.
“I have always said the same is true of myself and Argentina – breaking caps and goals records mean nothing unless they come with trophies. Like I say, Wayne is a winner. It will always be the team first and personal records second.”
