Pep Guardiola Names Lionel Messi the Greatest Striker Ever Ahead of Erling Haaland’s Achievements
Manchester City’s boss, Pep Guardiola, never fails to mention his former teammate Lionel Messi when discussing the game’s greatest players. And why shouldn’t he? Messi is widely regarded as the best footballer of all time.
During his latest interview, Pep Guardiola was asked if Erling Haaland is the most complete center-forward he has ever seen. But he quickly deflected the question by pointing out Messi’s incredible achievements. According to Pep, Haaland, who scored his 10th Manchester City hat-trick on Saturday, still has a long way to go before he can match Messi’s incredible level.
So, what makes Messi the greatest of all time? For Pep, it’s Messi’s ability to be an animal on the pitch. “Do you know why Messi is the best player I’ve ever seen in my life?” he asked during a team talk earlier this season. “Because he’s a competitor. He’s an animal.” Pep even went on to say that Messi can smell the goal and has the ability to pass the ball and score with ease, just like a machine.
Of course, Messi has a staggering number of achievements under his belt. With eight Ballon d’Or awards, numerous Champions League titles, and a host of other accolades, it’s clear that he’s the benchmark for any young player looking to make their mark on the game.
But Erling Haaland is certainly making waves at Manchester City. Since joining the club in 2022, the Norwegian striker has netted 94 goals in 101 games, an incredible statistic. However, even Haaland himself has admitted that he still has a long way to go before he can match Messi’s achievements.
In an era dominated by talented forwards, it’s easy to get carried away and label someone like Haaland as the greatest of all time. But as Pep Guardiola knows all too well, Messi is a whole different level of player. And even after scoring hat-trick number 10, Haaland still has a lot to prove before he can claim to be the best.
So, what’s the takeaway from Pep’s comments? Simply that Lionel Messi is a special player who will never be replicated. He’s the gold standard, the benchmark, and the reference point for all aspiring strikers. And for Manchester City, the goal will always be to follow in his footsteps and achieve greatness.
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