The Argentine legend did not mind crossing club lines when asked about the best team in the world
Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, revered as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has made a statement that has sent shockwaves through the hearts of Barcelona fans.
In a recent interview with Infobae, Messi admitted that their arch-rivals, Real Madrid, are currently the best team in the world after Los Blancos completed a LaLiga and UEFA Champions League double in the 2023/24 season.
Messi's respects Real Madrid’s results
When asked who the best team in the world is at the moment, Messi did not hesitate to name Barcelona’s heated rivals Real Madrid, despite his standing with the catalan club and the rivalry with Los Blancos.
He swiftly answered, "Real Madrid is the best team in the world, they have won the Champions League. If you go by results, Real Madrid is the best.”
While Messi’s opinion appears to be candid and with reasonable backing, it has expectedly caused a stir amongst Barcelona fans, who will be shocked at the ‘betrayal’ by the club’s greatest players in recognition of Real Madrid as the best team in the world.
Messi puts Guardiola’s Manchester City alongside Real Madrid
While Messi acknowledged Real Madrid's recent success in terms of results, he was quick to point out that, in his opinion, they do not play the best football.
Instead, Messi expressed his admiration for Manchester City, managed by his former coach Pep Guardiola.
He praised Guardiola's unique coaching style and the way he transforms his teams into special units. "If you go by results, it is Madrid. If you go by how they play, I personally like Guardiola’s City and I think that any team where Guardiola is will be special because of the way he is, the way he coaches and the way he makes his teams play."
Interestingly, Real Madrid defeated Guardiola’s Manchester City side on their way to their 15th Champions League title, beating the Cityzens on penalties in the quarterfinals.
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