Sport
Rodri Calls Messi the Greatest Footballer Ever After Winning His First Ballon d’Or
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has named Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time, expressing his admiration for the Argentine star’s unmatched skill and dominance on the field.
Rodri, who recently clinched the 2024 Ballon d’Or award for his exceptional performances, spoke candidly about his respect for Messi during an interview with El Hormiguero.
While acknowledging his own prestigious accolade, Rodri highlighted the incredible achievement of Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or an unprecedented eight times—three more than his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, now with Al Nassr.
The Spanish midfielder described the sense of inevitability Messi brings to a game, sharing his own experiences of trying to stop the legendary player on the pitch.
“Zero doubts. For me, Leo Messi is the best player ever,” Rodri said.
“When he received the ball, you knew something dangerous was coming.
I’d try to take the ball away from him, but he’d glide past me like I wasn’t even there.”
Messi’s eight Ballon d’Or wins solidify his legacy as one of football’s all-time greats.
From his years dominating at Barcelona to leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and now continuing to shine at Inter Miami, Messi has redefined what it means to be a football icon.
His rivalry with Ronaldo has fueled endless debates, but his consistency, versatility, and sheer brilliance have left even his opponents, like Rodri, in awe.
Rodri’s recognition of Messi’s greatness reflects the respect Messi commands within the football community.
Despite earning his first Ballon d’Or after a stellar season, including guiding Manchester City to a historic treble, Rodri still points to Messi’s long-standing brilliance as the pinnacle of football excellence.
Nigerian player Frank Onyeka speaks on the recent match of the Super Eagles against Tunisia and shares what made the difference in our victory at AFCON 2025.
While interviewed, the player stated “I think our game plan worked really well. The way we pressed them high didn’t give them any chance to play, so that is what made the difference.”
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a difficult period in his career, revealing that he almost stepped away from football.
Speaking during a recent interview, Bassey shared that he once made a personal promise to himself to quit pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a spot at a professional club.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get into a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise.”
It has been reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) fined Egypt $5,000 following their clash with Zimbabwe for failing to manage post-match media obligations.
It was noted that after the match, the Egyptian players ignored the media. This action was said to be a violation of CAF’s media regulations, which led to the fine being imposed.
“Our Game Plan Worked”: Frank Onyeka on Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 Victory
The Year Isn’t Over Until You Stop Trying: Entering 2026 With Renewed Hope
“My Greatest Fear Has Happened”: Lizzy Gold Mourns Father’s Death
-
Entertainment1 hour ago“My Greatest Fear Has Happened”: Lizzy Gold Mourns Father’s Death
-
Lifestyle & Culture1 hour agoThe Year Isn’t Over Until You Stop Trying: Entering 2026 With Renewed Hope
-
Sport1 hour ago“Our Game Plan Worked”: Frank Onyeka on Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 Victory
-
News1 hour ago979 Forests to Be Taken Down as Northern States Intensify Security Efforts