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.”
Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, believes Ousmane Dembélé has done more than enough to earn this year’s Ballon d’Or. Dembélé has been in top form throughout the 2025 season, scoring 25 goals and playing a key part in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic trophy sweep. PSG ended the season with wins in Ligue 1, the Champions League, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions.
In a chat with Le Figaro, Diallo said, “He might just be the favourite. Dembélé has had a remarkable season.” He added that it’s great to see two French stars—Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé—being serious contenders for the award, but made it clear Dembélé truly deserves the top prize.
Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand believes Lamine Yamal is ahead of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when they were 17. While Ronaldo and Messi are widely regarded as two of the greatest to ever play football, Ferdinand thinks Yamal is showing signs of something even more special at his age.
The young Barcelona star has been turning heads with his standout performances for Spain at Euro 2024, building on a season where he helped Barça clinch a domestic treble. At just 17, he’s already setting and breaking records, and even being mentioned in early Ballon d’Or conversations.
Speaking on his podcast, Ferdinand didn’t hold back when asked if Yamal is better than Ronaldo was at 17. “Absolutely,” he said. “He’s doing things neither Ronaldo nor Messi were doing at that age. His potential might even be higher. At 17, no one’s had this kind of impact.”
He added, “Maybe Pele did, but I didn’t see him play. What Yamal is doing right now is unbelievable.” Yamal’s rise suggests he’s not just the future of Spanish football—he might be the future of the game itself.
Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to go for Victor Osimhen over Viktor Gyokeres as they look to strengthen their attack ahead of the new season.
United are on the hunt for a reliable goal scorer after a disappointing campaign that saw them finish 15th on the table, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling to deliver up front. The team also fell short in Europe, losing to Tottenham in the UEFA Europa League final.
While Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres had an impressive season—netting 39 goals and adding eight assists to help his side win the Portuguese league—Ferdinand believes Osimhen would be a better fit at Old Trafford.
Speaking with The Mirror, the former United defender said, “Gyokeres is in great form and people are excited about him. But if I had to choose between him and Osimhen right now, I’d go with Osimhen because of his experience at the top level.”
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