In an interview with ESPN Argentina, former Barcelona defender and club icon Gerard Pique asserted that his former teammate Lionel Messi stands as the preeminent player in the annals of football history.
Pique and Messi shared numerous seasons together at Barcelona, achieving considerable success until Messi’s departure from the club in 2021. While Messi had long been regarded by many as the greatest player of all time, some critics had pointed to his lack of a World Cup triumph as a caveat against his legacy.
However, Messi decisively settled the debate by leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, securing the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s top performer. Reflecting on this pivotal moment, Pique declared, “Messi is the best player in the history of this sport.”
He continued, “Not only in Spain, but football fans worldwide yearned for Messi to claim the World Cup title he deserved. Any lingering doubts about Messi’s status as the greatest player in history due to his absence of a World Cup victory… I believe those doubts are now obsolete.”
Expounding on Messi’s achievement and its significance, Pique remarked, “I believe Messi savored the World Cup victory more at the juncture he attained it than if he had secured it at a younger age. When something is earned through immense struggle, its value is truly appreciated. He achieved it at the perfect moment. There is unequivocally no disputing that he reigns as the greatest in history.”
Further praising Messi’s impact, Pique added, “Messi elevated Barcelona to unprecedented heights… I witness Messi’s contentment and formidable form, as he contributes to bolstering the popularity of football in the Americas.”
While Pique’s admiration for his former colleague is evident, tensions between the two arose during Messi’s final tenure at Barcelona. Allegedly, Pique advised Barça president Joan Laporta against renewing Messi’s contract upon its expiration, resulting in Messi’s departure and straining the relationship between the two.