LEO IN THE WORDS OF LEGENDS

"You have to fight to reach your dreams. You have to sacrifice and work hard for that."

                                                                                  - Messi

Messi is undoubtedly the most successful footballer of the millennium. He has bagged more records than anyone and is still counting. Though short than a common athlete, he is too high to catch in the footballing world. Here are some quotes made by some legends on the legendary Messi. 

• “Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi!” - Arsene Wenger (Coach, Arsenal)
• “I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius and he can become an even better player.” - Diego Maradona (Ex Argentina)
• “Messi is, together with Pele, one of the best that ever lived. Breaking Muller’s record was a matter of time.” - Hitzfeld (Ex-Coach Bayern Munich)
• “Messi is the world’s best and gets physically attacked every game but all he ever does is get up and get on with it.” - Moyes (coach Everton)
• “Diego (Maradona) has filled us with emotions. But between the cracks, without doubt, Messi is better than Maradona.” Diego Simeone (Coach, Athletico Madrid)
• “Messi is marking a decade. He’s on his way to become one of the best in history, maybe best ever.” - Vitor Baia (ex-Porto)
• “Messi is the best player in the world because of what he has done and is doing with Barcelona.” - Mario Jorge Zagallo (Ex Coach, Brazil)
• “Messi is a Joke, for me the Best Ever!” - Wayne Rooney (ManUnited)
• “At the moment, Messi is the Best!” - Pele (Ex Brazil)
• “I see Maradona every time he grabs the ball and accelerates. We must protect him. I’d personally put him in a drawer of my bedside table.”- Juan Sebastian Veron (Ex Argentina)
• “I played with Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Laudrup and Stoichkov but Messi is the best I’ve seen” - Ferrer (ex-Barcelona, Chelsea)
• “For those asking i do think Messi is the best ever yes. Kenny was the best player i ever played with” - McDermott (Assistant Newcastle)
• “Messi’s control is the best I have ever seen, it is truly breathtaking.” - Eidur Gudjohnsen (ex-Chelsea, Barcelona)
• “Messi is the world’s number 1. Cruyff was my youth idol, him and Messi are the best players I saw in my life.” - Krankl (ex-Barcelona)
• “Best football player I played against? I think Messi. He killed us.” - Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham) Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham)
• “For me, Messi is the best player in history” - Ivan Helguera (ex-Real Madrid)
• “Messi is the best player in the world right now and the best ever. Together with Cruyff and Maradona, he’s the best we’ve seen at the club.” - Laporta (Ex President, Barcelona)
• “Who’s better, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Messi. Ronaldo is good, but Messi is ten times better.” - Huntelaar (Schalke)
• “Messi won 3 Ballons d’Or and is competing for another one. He will be the best player in the world until he retires.” - Aguero (Man City)
• “Messi is the best player in the history of football, and that’s why I prefer Barça over Real Madrid.” - Cassano (AC Milan)
• “Messi or Ronaldo best player in the world? In the world, I would say Ronaldo. Messi is from another planet.” - Arda Turan (Galatassary)
• “I think Barca will never have a player like Messi again. Messi’s greatness is present on and off the field of play.” - Sandro Rossell (President, Barcelona)
• “I was a big fan of Maradona growing up and of the current crop Ronaldo is good but Messi is the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t dish out praise lightly but Messi deserves it. I look for weaknesses in his game and I can’t find them.” - Roy Keane (Ex ManUnited)
• “Best Player I played against? Messi, when he plays wide. He is the best in the world. Football seems easy when he plays it” - Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
• “Although he may not be human, it’s good that Messi still thinks he is. Messi plays some another sport.” - Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
• “In my entire life I have never seen a player of such quality and personality at such a young age, particularly wearing the ‘heavy’ shirt of one of the world’s great clubs.” - Fabio Capello (Ex Coach, Juventus)
• “The other day I saw one of his games. He was running with the ball at a hundred percent full speed, I don’t know how many touches he took, maybe five or six, but the ball was glued to his foot. It’s practically impossible!” - Raul (Ex Real Madrid)
• “Without doubt he is on another planet, because he does things others can’t.” - Ganso (Brazil)
• “For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure – it’s like having an orgasm – it’s an incredible pleasure.”- Luis Figo (Ex Portugal)
• “We can give him the ball and we can stand back and watch him. People often say to me they saw Pele and Maradona play. In the future, I will be able to say I saw Messi play.” - Thiago Alacantera (Barcelona)
• “He is already the best in the world. He is an exceptional talent. I still think Diego Maradona is the best player I have ever seen, but Messi is closing in fast. He’s a wonderful sight in full flight and we are lucky to have him around.” - Ruud Gullit (Ex Netherlands)
• “Player I would like to sign for Internazionale? It’s easy, the strongest in Europe at the moment is Lionel Messi, so I would say him. Messi has amazing qualities, he is the best of all, number one. That is unquestionable.” - Luis Figo (Ex Inter)
• “For the world of football, Messi is a treasure because he is role model for children around the world.” – Johan Cryuff (Ex Barcelona)
• “There is no doubt, you’re from another galaxy. Thanks Leo” - Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool FC)
• “Is Messi a human being?????” - Demba Ba (Newcastle United)
• “They tell me that all men are equal in God’s eyes, this player (Messi) makes you seriously think about those words.” - Ray Hudson (Commentator)
• “You couldn’t put a value on him, he’s on another planet. For me, Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the No.1 player in the world.” - Harry Redknapp (Ex Coach, Tottenham)
• “My ideal trident would be myself alongside Rooney and Messi. They are the players who make me dream — not Cristiano.” - Carlos Tévez (Juventus)
• ”It doesn’t matter where Messi plays, if it’s cold or hot, he always proves that he’s the best.” - Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
• “The best.” - Marcello Lippi (Ex Coach, Italy)
• “You won’t see anyone else like Messi. People said that Di Stefano, Maradona and Cruyff were the best when they were playing. And now it is the same for Messi. He is on the throne and it is down to him how long he stays there.” - Robin Dutt (Coach, Bayer Leverkusen)
•  “Is Messi a real player or a Play Station character?” - Radamel Falcao (Athletico Madrid)
• “It is very simple, Messi is the best in the world, and if you give him a little bit of space, he can do whatever he wants.” - Neymar (Brazil)
• “Messi or Cristiano? Cristiano Ronaldo is very good, but I prefer Messi. He’s incredible.” - Gheorghe Hagi (ex-Madrid -Barcelona)
• “Messi is the best that’s played the game. Streets ahead of Maradona.” - Joey Barton (Queens Park Rangers)
• “To compare Lionel Messi to anybody else is unfair on them” - Sid Lowe (Editor, Guardian)
• “I believe that we have the first genius of the 21st century, Leo Messi.” - Jorde Valdano (Ex Real Madrid)
• “I can’t believe anyone can have played the game of football as well as Messi.”- Michael Owen (Ex Liverpool)
• “Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona’s.” - Franz Beckenbauer (Ex Germany)
• “Messi is very skilful and can do whatever he wants at any moment. He’s the best player in the world.” - Almunia (Arsenal)
• “There is no doubt that Messi is the best player in the world.” - Ronaldo (Brazil)
• “Ronaldinho is better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but neither are as good as Leo Messi.” - Antonio Cassano (AC Milan)
• “For me, Lionel Messi is quite clearly the best player ever. It’s a pleasure to pit myself against him and when I finish my career it’s something I can look back on and know I’ve tested myself against the very best.” - John Terry (Chelsea)
• “Messi or Ronaldo? I prefer Messi because he is more of a street player.” - Vicente Del Bosque (Coach, Spain)
• “Messi makes the difference most of the time. In particular, he is always going forwards. He never passes the ball backwards or sideways. He has only one idea, to run towards the goal.So as a football fan, just enjoy the show.” - Zinedine Zidane (Ex France)
• “The only bad thing about Ronaldo’s life is Messi. If it was not for him, Ronaldo would be the best player in the world for five years in a row.” - Filipe Scolari (Ex Coach, Portugal)
• “Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol but today you need a machine gun to stop Messi.” - Hristo Stoichkov (Ex Barcelona)
• “Messi has all the conditions to be the best.” - Romario (Ex Brazil)
• “Messi is undoubtedly a gifted footballer, like Maradona and Pele, and he’s playing for the best club side in the world at the moment. He’s successful and he’s winning trophies, so it’s only logical that he’ll be voted the best player in the world.”- Oliver Kahn (Ex Germany)
• “Messi is a special player, certainly the best attacker I’ve played against to date, but I think comparing players from different generations is difficult. All I know is that he’s spectacular and already is definitely among the best ever.” - Thiago Silva (Brazil)
• “Messi is the great player of this generation, like there were great players in other generations.” - Michel Platini (President, UEFA)
• “When Messi plays, he is the best.” - Pato (Brazil)
• “I’m not sure Messi is a human.” - Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao)
• “Mejores jugador del Mundo Messi! Best player in the World!” - John Heitinga (Everton)
• “Fella’s a genius! Best ever by a distance in my life time! Never really saw Pele. Wait til he grows up! Souness, Gullit, Venables and now Rooney agree Messi is the best they have seen. He plays a game to which we are not familiar.” Gary Linekar (Ex England)
• “Is Messi the best player of all times?” - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
• “Messi? We will play against the best in the world.” - Meneses (Coach, Brazil)
• “Messi will be the player to win the most Ballons d’Or in history. He will win five, six,seven. He is incomparable. He’s in a different league.” - Johan Cryuff (Ex Barcelona)
• “Who were the best players I had ever played against? Raul, Messi, Zidane.” - Rio Ferdinand (Man United)
• “Messi is more naturally gifted than Ronaldo. Messi does not need his right foot, though. He only uses the left and he’s still the best in the world! Imagine if he also used his right foot, Then we would have serious problems!” - Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
• “Between Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, I go with Messi. For me he is the best in the World.” - Rivaldo (Ex Brazil)
• “I wear Number 10 Jersey for the US National Team in honor of the Greatest athlete I have ever seen, Messi.” - Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers)
• “Comparing CR7 to Messi is an exercise of ignorance in football. Messi is Messi and others, footballers.” - Miguel Angel Lotina (Ex Coach, Deportivo)
• “Messi is the Mozart of football.” - Radomir Antic (Coach, Serbia)
• “Messi is much more than being clever. He is a genius who reserves all his expressiveness for football.” - John Carlin (Journalist, Argentina)
• “There’s only one that is a little stronger than me: Messi. All the othersare behind me.” - Mario Balotelli (Manchester City)
• “Messi is the only player for whom I would go crazy.” - Massimo Moratti (President, Inter Milan)
• “There are 3 or 4 important things in life: Books, Friends, Women……and Messi.” - Antonio Lobo Antunes (Writer,Portugal)
• “At this point I’m starting to believe that Messi is tightly related to Clark Kent.” - Bar Rafaeli (Model, Israel)
• “Cristiano Ronaldo has done massive things in both the Premier League and in the Champions League, but Messi is the best though and I am convinced that next year he will win the Ballon d’Or.” - Yaya Toure (Ex Barcelona)
• “Technically, Messi is superb. His goals are brilliant. And despite being a genius, he’s not a selfish player” - Gerd Muller (Ex Bayern Munich)
• “Messi is the best player in the world, no doubts. But we hope that in the games against us, he won’t be the best player.” - Salomon Kalou (Chelsea)
• “It feels good to be in the same generation as him. I believe he’s the best player in the history of the sport.” - Pique (Gerard Barcelona)
• “I am not crazy enough to compare myself with Messi because he is the best there ever was and the best there will ever be.” - Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)
• “Messi is the best ever. I played in a great LFC team of the late 70s and early 80s which ruled Europe but imust say i think this Barcelona team would batter us.” - Terry McDermot (Ex Liverpool)
• “Lionel Messi, you know what right now? Justcall him the best.” - Donovan (USA)
• ”I think Messi is the best forward in the world. It is very difficult to play against him. But he is not only a forward, he is moving everywhere. He is a very good player.” - Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)
• “Barcelona are the best team in Europe and for that reason, they are the favourites. In addition, they have the best player in the world today, Lionel Messi.” - Juninho (Brazil)
• “Messi is the best player ever. And this is said by someone who has seen Maradona and Pele play.” - Galliani (Vice President Milan)
• “I have played against (Michel) Platini, (Diego) Maradona, (Johan) Cruyff and played with George Best — a lot of big names, but none of them has been able to do what Messi does. Two years ago I said that the best player I played against was Maradona and the best player I have played with was Bestie. But I can now say I have never seen a player as good as Messi. He’s in a league of his own.” - Gerry Armstrong (Ex Tottenham)
• “Regular readers will know I’m a fan of (Cristiano) Ronaldo, and an even bigger fan of the man who’s assumed his mantle with quite astonishing success, Wayne Rooney. But Messi is on a higher plain than even that pair.” - Andy Cole (Ex Manchester United)
• ”My record stood for 40 years and now the best player in the world has broken it. I’m happy for him. Messi is fantastic. An incredible player, a giant. And such a nice and modest guy. Only one defect: he doesn’t play at Bayern.” - Gerd Muller (Ex Bayern Munich)
• ”Respect Lionel Messi!!!” - Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
• ”Messi. 86 goals in calendar year and still 3 games to play! Best to ever play the game in my opinion just edges Maradona.” - Joey Barton (Marseille)
• ”86 Goals in 2012 – Leo Messi magic!” - Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund)
• ”Congratulations, Leo Messi!! New record for the best in the world! A big hug” - Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG)
• ”Messi is out of this world. Scoring 86 goals this year… In 2012. What an incredible accomplishment” - Alex Morgan (US Women’s NT, Ballon d’Or 2012 Nominee)­
• “I prefer Messi plays, you want to see the best players on the pitch. But I’m not stupid, he’s the best in the world.” - Pepe Mel (Coach Real Betis)
• ”Messi is the best in the world, almost a player from another planet. It’s very difficult to find words for Leo.” - Sabella (Coach, Argentina)
• “Don’t know this year or next, but Messi will win 4th Ballon d’Or and surpass Cruyff, Van Basten and me.” - Michel Platini (President, UEFA)
• “Lionel Messi is the best player of all times.” - Carlos Bianchi (Ex Coach Velez -Boca -Atletico)
• ”Greatest footballer I have ever played with or against? Against Messi” - Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
• ”Football keeps producing icons who shape an era. In my day it was Maradona, and now it’s Messi. He achieves the unbelievable on the field, and all at the highest pace you can imagine.” - Toni Schumacher (ex-Koln -Fenerbahce)
• ”Lionel Messi is the most amazing player I have ever seen.” - Harry Redknapp (Coach, QPR)
• “This is the era of Messi, period. He’s very creative, always finds new ways to deal with his opponents.” - Caniggia (ex-Atalanta -Boca)
• ”You can only stop Messi if he watches the game from the stands.” - Juanlu (Levante)
• ”Messi or Cristiano – Speed? Cristiano. Shot? Cristiano. Dribbling? Messi. Intelligence? Messi. Talent? Messi. Winner is Messi!” - Usain Bolt (Sprinter)
• ”I love Messi, I think he will break all records. I’m envious he doesn’t play with us, at Madrid.” - Pachin (ex-Real Madrid)
• “Messi is a once in a generation player. It’s unlikely that any human being will repeat his numbers.” - Buffon (Juvetus)
•  “Messi’s control and technique while going at full speed is unique in the world.” - Sandro Mazzola (European Cup 1964 1965)
• “Messi deserves it (Ballon d’or) and I’m 100% behind him. He’s the best player of all time and if he stays fit he will continue for the next five or six years. The things he does right now are out of this world.” - Josip Simunic (Dinamo Zagreb)
• “Messi is on a different level. The fact he is doing what he is year after year says that he is the best of all time.” - Ruud van Nistelrooy (Ex Real Madrid)
• “Who do I think will win the FIFA Ballon d’or (2012) in Zurich today? Lionel Messi. Best player ever to grace this planet.” - Shay Given (Ex Goal Keeper, Ireland)
• “You cannot compare anyone to Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great human footballer, but Messi is a Martian.” - Alfio Basile (Ex Coach, Boca Juniors)
• “The best player EVER (Leo Messi) without a shadow, if you didn’t think/know already…” ­- Robbie Fowler (ex-Liverpool)
• “Congrats to Messi! Wow, 4 yrs in a row! Added something else to his list of ‘only person to..’ Is Messi Best Of All Time?” - Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
• “This Guy (Messi) is the Best Player in the World, no doubt about that. I think we’re always nervous about calling people who are currently playing, who are young at 23, to say he’s the Best Player ever. But we shouldn’t be. We should admit what we are seeing in front of our eyes. This is a special talent, who may be is the Best Player ever been seen.” - Gary Neville (Ex Man.United)
• “Lionel Messi has to win tonight’s Ballon d’Or. He’s simply the Best. Decision should be unanimous.” - Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
• “Messi, he’s exceptional. When you watch him, you feel there’s a child inside him and he is making some childhood dream come true. He’s a Great Player, not only for today but also tomorrow.” - Eric Cantona (Ex Man.United)
• “Lionel Messi is the Best Player Ever.” - Graeme Souness (Ex Liverpool)
• “I like Messi a lot, he’s a great player. Technically, we’re practically at the same level.” - Pele (Ex Brazil)
• “Messi is the Best. There must be life out there somewhere, on some other planet. Because he is too good and we are just too bad for him.” - Jürgen Klopp (Coach, Dortmund)
• “Messi is the best player of all time. Better than Pele, better than Maradona and better than anyone else.” - Adriano Galliani (AC Milan Vice President)
• “Messi is God, as a person and even more as a player. I knew him when he was a boy and I’ve watched him grow. He deserves it all. I hope that he can win the World Cup with Argentina. He’s a good boy and I wish him all the best”. - Samuel Eto’o (Ex Barcelona)
• “Newton and Einstein had a certain level of autism — I hope that like them, Messi surpasses himself every day and continues to give us his beautiful brand of football.” -  Romario (Ex Brazil)
• “The greatest player in the world. He’s got a fantastic vision of the game, and what he can do technically — it’s crazy.” - Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal)
• “Messi is the best player in the world. If he’s not already, he’ll be the best footballer of all time.” - LeBron James (Basketball player, Miami Heats)
• “Lionel Messi was made in a laboratory, he’s not human.” - Bradley Johnson (Norwich City)
• “Messi the best player in the world by far. I don’t think we’ll ever see a player like him again.” - Tito Vilanova (Ex Coach, Barcelona)
• “It is clear that Messi is on a level above all others. Those who do not see that are blind.” - Xavi (Barcelona)
• “Lionel Messi gets kicked every week. It’s the only way to stop him. But all he ever does is smile, get up & get on with it.” - David Moyes (Ex Coach, Everton)
• “Leo deserves the Ballon d’Or — he’s the best player in the world. As a person he’s very modest, both on the field and off it.” - Erik Lamela (Tottenham)
• “Messi is class. There is him, and then there is the rest. What he does is extraordinary. He demands admiration.” - Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich)
• “Messi makes the difference. He does everything so well and manages to do it at such an unstoppable pace.” - Diego Alves (Valencia)
• “Messi is unstoppable and we should feel privileged to be watching a player who may be the best of all time. The best and most exciting footballer on the planet.” - Pedro Pinto (Anchor, CNN)
• “I saw Maradona play extraordinary matches. I followed his career live, for me Messi is the best of Diego, every single day.” - Juan Pablo Varsky (Journalist, La Nación)
• “Cristiano reminds me of German tennis player Michael Stich. He was destined to make history, but then Boris Becker showed up. Cristiano is so fast, so strong, so incredible, but he has one problem: Leo Messi.” - Jürgen Klopp (Coach, Dortmund)
• “Messi is unbelievable. It is great to get the chance to play against the best in the world. It doesn’t really need repeating: he is a fantastic player.” - Niklas Moisander (Ajax)
• “Leo Messi the best in the world. He has 1,000 ways of beating you. It’s easy to talk to the players about stopping Messi, but doing it is much harder. “ - Jagoba Arrasate (Coach, Real Sociedad)

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