Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time, and his opinion would not have changed if the Argentine superstar had not won the 2022 FIFA World Cup title.
Lionel Messi shone for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as the 35-year-old finally won the only trophy that had eluded him until then in his trophy-filled career. Lionel Messi was sensational for Argentina at Qatar 2022, scoring seven goals for his nation as they lifted the FIFA World Cup title for the third time in their country’s history.
Argentina defeated France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. The South American heavyweights clinched the title after beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout. Prior to that, the two sides had remained locked in a draw at the end of regulation time and extra time.
When the whistle blew to mark the end of regulation time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final, the score read: Argentina 2:2 France. France worked their way back into the game in the second half after Argentina established a two-goal cushion in the first. Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe each scored a goal in extra time as the score read: Argentina 3:3 France at the end of extra time.
Read more: Lionel Messi’s FIFA World Cup victory won’t end the GOAT debate, says Andrés Iniesta
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Pep Guardiola praises ‘greatest of all time’ Lionel Messi
At a press conference, Pep Guardiola praised Lionel Messi, whom he has trained at FC Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola believes that Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time and that the 2022 FIFA World Cup title victory was the “final cherry on top of an incredible career”.
“Everyone has an opinion but no one can doubt that he is up there as the greatest of all time. For me he is the best, difficult to understand that a player can compete with what he has done, ”said Pep Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola added: “The people who saw Pelé or Di Stéfano or Maradona. Opinions are sentimental, but on the other hand, if he didn’t win the World Cup, the opinion and my opinion would not change.
“It is normal that people depend on whether you win or they evaluate you. The final cherries of an incredible career.”
Lionel Messi will turn his attention to Paris Saint-Germain once he returns to training with the French club. He has been stellar for PSG in the 22/23 season and will aim to maintain that form for the remainder of the season.
