Pep Guardiola has long settled the debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. As Messi’s manager at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, Guardiola oversaw the Argentine’s incredible transformation into a world-class player. During that period, Messi scored an astounding 221 goals in 219 appearances, excelling in a newly defined false nine role and leading Barcelona to three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.
This era also saw the peak of Messi’s rivalry with Real Madrid’s Ronaldo, as the two footballing giants went head-to-head in a fierce competition for supremacy.
While many believe Messi’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup with Argentina cemented his GOAT status, Guardiola has always regarded Messi as the best, even ahead of Ronaldo. Speaking in a press conference following Messi’s World Cup victory, Guardiola said, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but no one can deny that Messi is among the greatest of all time.”
He continued, “I’ve said it many times before: for me, he’s the best. It’s hard to imagine anyone competing with what he’s achieved in the last 50 to 70 years. Of course, those who saw Pele, Di Stefano, or Maradona might have sentimental attachments to those players. But even if Messi hadn’t won the World Cup, my opinion of him wouldn’t have changed. What he has done for football is unparalleled. The World Cup was just the final piece in an extraordinary career.”
Messi was close to reuniting with Guardiola at Manchester City, even holding discussions with the City boss at his home. However, the move never came to fruition, and Messi stayed at Barcelona for one more season before joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
Despite the failed transfer, Guardiola’s admiration for Messi remains unwavering. When asked if Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal machine, could be considered the most complete forward, Guardiola’s response was unequivocal: “The most incredible forward I’ve ever seen is Messi. I’ve never seen anyone like him.”
