Sport
Messi Reveals Guardiola and Ronaldinho Had a Huge Impact on His Barcelona Career
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has credited Pep Guardiola and Ronaldinho as two of the most influential figures in his career during his time at Barcelona.
Reflecting on his journey at the iconic La Liga club, Messi shared how these two legends shaped his path, both on and off the pitch.
Messi made his debut for Barcelona in 2004, stepping onto the field alongside some of football’s greatest players.
At that time, Ronaldinho, the Brazilian magician, was a key figure at the club. Known for his dazzling skills and infectious smile, Ronaldinho played more than just the role of a teammate.
He became a mentor to a young Messi, guiding him through the challenges of breaking into the first team.
Messi often speaks fondly of how Ronaldinho welcomed him into the squad, supported him during his early days, and created an environment where he could thrive.
Years later, Messi reached new heights under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, who took over as Barcelona’s head coach in 2008.
Guardiola revolutionized the team with his innovative tactics, introducing the famous “tiki-taka” style of play that dominated European football.
Under his leadership, Messi became virtually unstoppable, breaking records and winning numerous trophies, including two Champions League titles.
When asked to name the people who left the greatest impact on his time at Barcelona, Messi mentioned Guardiola for the incredible success they achieved together, saying, “We accomplished things we never thought were possible.”
He also praised Ronaldinho for his warmth and guidance, recalling, “He helped me a lot during my first moments in the first team.”
Former Tottenham striker Ahmed ‘Mido’ Hossam has opened up on why Cristiano Ronaldo struggles with coaches. Mido believes Ronaldo’s biggest issue is that his strong personality tends to overshadow the coaches he works with, making it hard for managers to lead effectively. He contrasted Ronaldo with Karim Benzema, saying Benzema respects the coach’s authority and understands his role, which makes working with him smoother.
Ronaldo, known for being outspoken on and off the pitch, famously clashed with Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag during their time together. Now at Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s future is uncertain after hinting he may leave the Saudi league.
Mido added that many top coaches would hesitate to work with Ronaldo, pointing out that even Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi wouldn’t want to manage Al-Nassr while Ronaldo is there. He also noted that Ronaldo only joined Al-Nassr after European clubs stopped showing interest, highlighting the challenges the 40-year-old faces in the final stages of his career.
Chelsea legend John Terry has pointed out that his former club still has some work to do before they can seriously challenge for the Premier League title. Speaking on talkSPORT, Terry stated that Liverpool and Manchester City remain stronger teams right now. He said Chelsea are “a couple of years away” from being ready to compete at that level.
Terry also praised Arsenal’s consistency this season and expects them to strengthen their squad further. He stressed how important it is for Chelsea to secure Champions League football next season, as it will help attract experienced players needed to push on. Chelsea ended the 2024/25 Premier League season in fourth place, just securing a spot in Europe’s top competition.
Al-Hilal are making a bold move to sign Victor Osimhen with a huge offer lined up ahead of the summer transfer window. According to FootMercato, the Saudi giants are ready to put €120 million on the table for a three-year deal in a bid to bring the Nigerian striker to Riyadh. They want Osimhen in their squad ahead of the Club World Cup set to kick off next month, hoping his presence will boost their chances after missing out on the Saudi Pro League title to Al-Ittihad.
Osimhen recently wrapped up an impressive season at Galatasaray, where he was on loan from Napoli. He found the back of the net 36 times in 40 appearances across all competitions, catching the eye of top European clubs. Al-Hilal know they’ll face stiff competition but are pulling out all the stops to land the 26-year-old, who could be key to their world-stage ambitions. Meanwhile, they’re also monitoring Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation closely, with reports suggesting the Portuguese star may be on his way out of Al-Nassr.
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