NV

“While Cristiano is an athlete, Messi is fast, smart, cunning. For me, he’s a character out of a Charles Dickens novel. He’s Oliver Twist. An innocent little guy that arrives at Victoria Station and picks the pockets of all those who think they are important without them noticing and who has a great group of ‘thieves’ working by his side.”

In an interview to Madrid publication AS, former FC Barcelona manager Terry Venables finds inspiration in great literature to heap praise on Leo Messi and his Barca teammates.

--------------------------

"Once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable. He's the only player who can change direction at such a pace."
"He is the best player in the world by some distance. He's (like) a PlayStation. He can take advantage of every mistake we make."

Arsène Wenger after Barcelona won 4–1 against Arsenal.


----------------------------


"Messi xứng đáng giành QBV hàng năm" - Paolo Maldini.

"Messi xuất sắc nhất, nhưng Xavi & Iniesta có lợi thế WC" - Guardiola.

"Messi xuất sắc nhất Thế giới, điều đó không phải bàn cãi. Nhưng là người Tây Ban Nha, tôi thích danh hiệu này cho Xavi hoặc Iniesta hơn" - del Bosque. (chính ông bầu Messi ở vị trí số 1).

"Khi bạn trực tiếp đối đầu với cậu ta, bạn mới thực sự kinh hoàng và bị ám ảnh trong một thời gian dài. Tôi không thể bầu vị trí số 1 cho ai khác ngoài Messi, mặc dù tôi là đồng đội của Sneijder" - Lucio.

"Khi mà chính những đối thủ lớn nhất bầu chọn cho cậu ấy vào vị trí số 1, thì ắt hẳn là có lí do chính đáng của nó" - HLV Brazil.

"Messi đạt giải đã mở ra một tư duy mới trong cách bầu chọn QBV. Không cần phải là người đạt nhiều thành tích nhiều nhất cùng tập thể bạn mới được coi là cá nhân xuất sắc nhất" - Micheal Laudrup.

-----------------------------

Xavi
"He (Messi) is one step above us all. He's the best player and there can be no argument."
-
Arsène Wenger
“Messi’s like a PlayStation. He can take advantage of every mistake we make. He made the impossible possible. He has something exceptional. He has six or seven years in front of him, touchwood that nothing happens to him, and he can reach unbelievable levels.
-
“In the biggest games, exceptional players still make the difference. Messi is the best player in the world, and by a distance
"His team work to get him moving and once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable. He's the only player who can change direction at such a pace."
–
Ossie Ardiles
"Messi is out of this planet, I would say he is so far ahead of the rest of the players playing right now and I would say historically as well. There are not words to describe him.
–
Hristo Stoichkov
"Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol but today you need a machine gun to stop him."
–
Andres Iniesta
"If the people have voted for Leo Messi it's because he deserves it and because he's a just winner. We were the three nominations, any of us could have won, but Leo has won and we need to congratulate him. We are very happy for him and for having been here."
–
Luis Figo
"For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure – it's like having an orgasm – it's an incredible pleasure."
–
Ruud Gullit
"He is already the best in the world and it is also all about the work he does without the ball. He wants to tackle back and get the ball.
"He is an exceptional talent. I still think Diego Maradona is the best player I have ever seen – but Messi is closing in fast. He's a wonderful sight in full flight and we are lucky to have him around."
–
Diego Maradona
"I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Lionel Messi. Messi is a genius and he can become an even better player. His potential is limitless and I think he’s got everything it takes to become Argentina’s greatest player."
–
Pep Guardiola
“Put in the superlatives yourselves, I’m running out. It’s already been a while now that he has been outstanding. He’s more than decisive in every way. That he’s capable of doing everything that he does at his age is something impressive, that doesn’t make any sense.
“The best players are always in the thick of the action. (Michael) Jordan did it with the Bulls, (Kobe) Bryant does it with the Lakers and Leo does it here. We want him to stay with us because he’s the best and we wouldn’t swap him for anyone.”
"You have to see [his level of performance] – it is not something you can describe because you have to see it to believe it."
"The good thing about Messi is that tomorrow [after his four goals against Arsenal] he will get up and look for the affection of his people and his team-mates. I like the love he has for football and his anonymous character,"
–
Sergio Ramos
"Since the fist time I saw him play I have always said he surprised me, and he has done every day since."
–
Ronaldinho
[On receiving the Ballon d’Or in 2006] “This award says I’m the best player in the world, but I’m not even the best player at Barcelona.”
“Leo Messi reminds me more of Maradona, both left-footed and short, Messi is the best player in the world, along with Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. For us it is not a surprise. Since he began to come and train with us and we knew we would go down this path. Someday I will explain that I was at the birth of one of the footballing greats: Leo Messi."
–
Carles Puyol
"He is a spectacular player, there is nobody else like him. I should know because I have suffered so much in training. I think he is the best forward at the moment and I think he will be so for many more years. He has his feet on the ground."
–
José Aurelio Gay [Real Zaragoza coach speaking after their recent 4-2 defeat to Barca]
“Tonight, I saw Diego Maradona, but at more revs per minute. There are no words left to describe him – he is interplanetary. We could have beaten Barcelona but we could never have beaten Leo Messi. If we had scored four, he would have scored 12.”
–
Ander Herrera [Real Zaragoza playmaker that night]
“I’m not sure he’s human.”
–
Frank Rijkaard
"He’s a unique player because he can do things of almost imperceptible excellence and is a gem to watch."
–
Xavi
"It is clear that Messi is on a level above all others. Those who do not see that are blind."
"I am asked this question [is Messi the greatest player on the planet?] every season and every time I say the same thing. He's a fantastic player and moreover he is my friend."
–
Julio Grondona [President of the Argentine FA]
"Without Messi there isn’t a team for Argentina, Messi is brilliant, different, with a strong mentality. Let’s hope he doesn’t change."
–
Carlos Tévez
"His speed is astonishing. It’s amazing how he can go 1 to 100 in just one second. I’m constantly around great players like Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Wayne] Rooney, but this guy is just a step up above every other great footballer out there at the moment. Not only is he quick, determined, and extremely intelligent on the ball, but his movement off the ball is just as fantastic – unbelievable to sum it up in a word."
–
Johann Cruyff
"He deserves ten out of ten for doing what he does. He is a sensation, but still he can improve. He must know when to move the ball on quickly and when to try the impossible mission. When he learns this, he won’t win a single Golden Ball, but an entire collection."
–
Juan Sebastian Veron
"I see Maradona every time he grabs the ball and accelerates. We must protect him. I’d personally put him in a drawer of my bedside table."
–
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
"Nobody was so wonderful at 19 years, neither Pele nor Maradona."
–
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva [Presdient of Brazil]
"When I see Messi – who is the best player in the world in my opinion – lose the ball, he runs off until he gets it back or commits a foul. Our guys lose the ball and fold their arms."
–
Fernando Gago [Real Madrid and Argentina]
"For me, the best in the world is Messi because of the way he plays, moves with the ball and changes matches, Messi has incredible ability and I love the way that he plays. I always thank God that he is an Argentine, not just as a player, but as a person too."
–
Theirry Henry
"I have the possibility to watch Messi in training each morning, and, because of what he demonstrates, he is the best player in the world. It is a pleasure to watch him and because of the way he plays he is an undisputed leader of the Barcelona team.
–
Juan Laporta [Barcelona ex-president]
“Messi, without doubt, is the leader of Barcelona. He is the best player in the world and the best in the history of football. Along with [Johan] Cruyff and [Diego] Maradona he is the best player we have seen at Barca.”
–
Marcello Lippi
"The best? Messi."
–
Christian Gross “I think he is certainly one of the best in the world and people are right to make comparisons with Diego Maradona. It’s amazing when you think he is still only 22 years old. He’s just a fantastic player.”
–
Mikel Arteta
"It is as if someone commands him from the stands, like a video game. I have never seen a human run with the ball at that speed. I have not seen Maradona so I cannot compare, but Messi is simply unbeatable."
–
Raul
"The other day I saw one of his games. He was running with the ball at a hundred per cent full speed, I don’t know how many touches he took, maybe five or six, but the ball was glued to his foot. It’s practically impossible!"
–
Lionel Messi
"Diego is Diego and for me he is the greatest player of all time. Even after a million years I am not even going to be close to Maradona. I have no intention of comparing myself with Maradona – I want to make my own history for something I have achieved."