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.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup may have come to an end, but fans are still talking about its historic entertainment lineup.
From the opening ceremony to the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show and the closing ceremony, the tournament featured performances from some of the biggest artists in the world.
Some of the performers included:
- Madonna
- BTS
- Shakira
- Burna Boy
- Justin Bieber
- Chris Martin (Coldplay)
- Jennifer Hudson
- Robbie Williams
- Nicole Scherzinger
- Laura Pausini
- Post Malone
- PS22 Chorus
- Gustavo Dudamel and orchestra
Football legend Thierry Henry has reacted to Lionel Messi’s emotional response after Argentina lost the 2026 FIFA World Cup final to Spain.
It can be recalled that Spain defeated Argentina to lift the 2026 World Cup trophy. While Spain celebrated their victory, cameras captured Messi in tears after the final whistle.
Henry said Messi’s reaction showed just how much the game still means to him.
“Look at what it means to him. If you ever had any doubt about whether the guy still has any fire in his belly, look at him. Look at what it means.”
He added “You won already. And look at the guy. Look at the passion, desire and the love that he has for his country and how much he puts into it.”
Football legend Rio Ferdinand has shared his prediction ahead of the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
While many have backed different teams to lift the trophy, Ferdinand said some fans have underestimated Argentina’s quality.
He said “I find it difficult to bet against Argentina. They have demonstrated remarkable character, determination, and resilience. I believe people have been somewhat disrespectful by calling them an average team; they are not.”
He continued “I think it is inappropriate and disrespectful. If you are saying that, you clearly do not watch enough football, as they are an excellent team, and in challenging situations, they become even better and stronger. However, I do believe Spain will win the match.”
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