‘He isn’t even the 4th best ever’ – Messi slammed by ex-Argentina star
FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is considered by many to be one of the greatest players of all time, but a former Argentina star has now claimed the six-time Ballon d’Or winner is not even among the top four best footballers in history.
Having taken aim at the 32-year-old in the past, ex-Argentina international Hugo Gatti, 75, has once again made a surprising claim about his compatriot.
Asked recently in an interview whether or not he feels Messi compares to Albiceleste icon Diego Maradona, the former River Plate and Boca Juniors goalkeeper named four players he believes were better footballers than the Blaugrana captain, including Ronaldinho.
“He (Messi) is some way away from the players I saw,” Gatti told Spanish TV programme El Chiringuito de Jugones.
“And doesn’t even get into the top echelon.
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“The best in my lifetime was Pele, then Alfredo Di Stefano. The rest are further back, and even Ronaldinho, at his best, was better than Messi.
“I was at Boca and Argentina with Maradona. Diego is better. No discussion. Messi isn’t better than him.
“And in addition, Diego came alive with big moments. In important matches. Messi hasn’t.”