Here are seven players who idolize arguably one of the biggest football icons in the history of the game, Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time and has inspired countless young athletes worldwide in addition to leaving an enduring mark on the sport with his extraordinary abilities and accomplishments.
It is no surprise that the youngsters in the world of football in the world today look up to him with many having their minds set on emulating him and also playing alongside him.
Who are the footballers who idolize Lionel Messi?
Messi's story, which begins in Rosario, Argentina, and continues with his brilliant career at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, is an inspiring one for players hoping to carve out their own niche in the game.
Here are seven top players who have spoken about how much they idolize Messi:
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- Neymar
After playing a total of 6 seasons side by side, it is no news to anyone how much respect the Brazilian forward has for his colleague. Neymar has openly expressed how much he respects Messi and his post despite losing the 2021 Copa America final to Argentina proved that as well.
Neymar had taken to his social media page to say, “Losing hurts me, it hurts me… it’s something I haven’t learned to live with yet. When I lost, I went to give a hug to the biggest and best in history that I saw playing. My friend and brother MESSI, I was sad and I told him, ‘You beat me.’ I’m very sad for having lost. But this guy is awesome! I have great respect for what he has done for football and especially for me.”
- Frankie de Jong
Playing alongside the Argentine striker for two years, De Jong is full of admiration for Messi's work ethic and vision. In fact, he admitted in an interview that Messi was one of the reasons he initially joined Barcelona.
He had said in the interview, “Messi is one of the reasons why I moved to Barcelona. Messi has been the best in the world for 15 years. He was the best when I was a 12-year-old.”
Frenkie de Jong joined FC Barcelona in January 2019, officially making the move after completing a transfer from Ajax. He officially started playing for Barcelona at the beginning of the 2019-2020 season.
- Lautaro Martínez
Many times, Lautaro Martínez has often complimented Lionel Messi, praising his skill and contribution to the game. He sees Messi as an inspiration as well as a teammate. When they play together for the Argentina national team, Lautaro really values the chance to share the field with such a renowned player.
He had said in an interview, “For us Argentines, Leo is as important as Maradona was. It’s something that goes beyond football. He is the best in the world; playing with him in the national team is a privilege. He is generous; he shows me his movements, he teaches me to find spaces that apparently do not exist.”
- Ansu Fati
Ansu Fati revealed that it was a dream come true for him to play with Lionel Messi. He respects Messi's talent, work ethic, and capacity to improve the group's output.
The youngster had said in an interview after his first debut for Barcelona in 2019, “Playing with Messi is a dream I had since I was a child and now I am living it. He gives me a lot of advice, he helps me a lot on the pitch and in training, but away from it too, and that makes me very happy.”
Ansu Fati joined FC Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, in 2012 when he was just 10 years old. He made his first-team debut for Barcelona on August 31, 2019, at the age of 16, becoming one of the youngest players to do so in the club's history.
- Emile Smith Rowe
With a focus on Lionel Messi's exceptional talent and the way he has changed the game, Emile Smith Rowe has expressed respect for the 34-year-old. Citing Messi's work ethic, consistency, and the magic he brings to the game, he refers to Messi as an inspiration for young players.
He had revealed in an interview that while growing up, he looked up to Messi and Iniesta and watching both footballers play for Barcelona had inspired him so much and that the magic they both created on the field was really amazing.
- Florian Wirtz
Wirtz is grateful for Messi's ability to produce at the highest level every time and for the way his unique approach has influenced the game. He regularly mentions Messi as an inspiration, noting how seeing him play has impacted his own growth as a budding football player.
He had revealed in an interview, “My first jersey was Messi’s Argentina jersey. When I was little, he was the best player there was at the time in the world. I watched videos of him, and was a fan of his – I wanted to be as good as him.”
- Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba has frequently hailed Lionel Messi, referring to him as one of the best players in football history. Pogba has said that it is an amazing experience to play against or with such a legend, and he frequently emphasises Messi's capacity to use his skill and creativity to turn a game around.
He had said in an interview back in 2021, “Messi and football are two things that go together. I enjoy watching him, he does things that nobody does. He has a stature that nobody has, something special for him, everything is special. He’s a player who has football inside him, who feels it, it’s incredible.”
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