“I came to know the best player in the world. Messi. God bless you.”
Paul Pogba: “Messi is Messi. Right now, he is the best player in the world. No doubt.” [lequipe]
Medel (Inter): "Copa America? Alexis Sanchez is the player who makes the difference for us, he's should be our Lionel Messi." [tvn]
Mourinho: "In 10 years time, without Lionel Messi, the map of european football is going to change."
Mourinho: "What Barça have won in the last few years was with Rijkaard, Pep and Luis Enrique as coach, but it's always with Messi."
Carlos Bacca (Sevilla FC): "I'm happy to have scored 20 goals in such a competitive league but the fight between Messi & Cristiano is in a league of it's own."
Harry Redknapp (ex-QPR coach) “Any time you watch Barcelona, watching Messi is just amazing at the moment.” [sky sports]
Redknapp: “The goal Messi scored against Bilbao was incredible. He’s like a kid at school playing against a load of kids who can’t play.”
Harry Redknapp: “It’s so silly; Messi is on another planet, just amazing.”
Tw Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers): " #Messi #MagisterialMessi "
Joe Hart (Man City) “I enjoyed my save against Swansea more than my save against Messi because we beat Swansea.” [mirror]
Joe Hart: “Messi was magical in both games against us. Every time he touched the ball, something was going to happen.”
Joe Hart: “I hope Barcelona win the Champions League. A lot of it will be down to Messi.”
Jo Kwang-Myong (Korea DPR) “I'm a huge Messi fan, actually we're the same size. He inspires me a great deal.” #U20WC [fifa]
Llorente (Juventus) “I think Messi is an alien, who is defining an era of football.” [sky]
Benitez: "Physically, Cristiano is stronger than Messi, he has many qualities, but Messi scores more. He's incredible, exceptional player."
Materazzi (ex-Italy) “The only way to stop Messi is to pray and then commit a foul to stop him!” [goal]
Materazzi: “Messi makes the difference more than any other player. If Juventus are able to limit his actions then they have every chance.”
Marco van Basten: “Messi was exceptional. He made it 1-0, he made it 2-0, and then he made the pass for the 3-0.”
Capello (ex-coach Juventus): "After 2005 Gamper, I asked Rijkaard if we could sign Messi on loan. I had never seen anyone like him." [oc]
Capello: "When you buy a ticket for a Messi game, you know you'll see something different, like when you went to see Pavarotti at the Scala"
Arturo Vidal (Juventus) “What do I think of Messi? He’s simply the best. What more can I say?” [ole]
Xavi: "Messi is the smallest, but he's the best at everything, even in the air. He's a phenomenon. What Leo has been doing is amazing."
Xavi: "Leo's even the best at defending. When he puts pressure on the full-backs, he wins the ball back. He's the best at everything" [uefa]
Suárez: “Messi is the best in the world and he shows it game after game. There's no discussion. He can't be compared to anyone else.”
Del Piero (ex-Juventus) “Messi is the number one. He has talent, instinct, passion and magic.” [fcb]
Del Piero: “Messi is part of football heritage and we’re so lucky that he’s living in our time and that we can enjoy watching him.”
Simeone: "Messi moves inside & outside. Difficult to think about controlling a player who's uncontrollable. Its ridiculous, there’s no way."
Van Nistelrooy (ex-Man United) “When Neymar, Suarez and Messi are functioning, Barcelona have the best attack in the world.” [goal]
Paolo Maldini (ex-AC Milan): "Messi makes the difference. I think he reached and surpassed the level of Maradona."
Deco: “Messi's goal against Bilbao? He could have scored the same goal in Italy, Germany and any other place. He is pure quality.” [efe]
Koeman (coach Southampton): "Messi is best player ever. Some say Pele, Cruyff or Maradona, but none of them was as decisive as Messi" [cope]
Hazard (Chelsea) “Ballon d'Or? Messi and Ronaldo are extraterrestrials in football. It'll be hard to dislodge them.” [sun]