Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola has for sure that Lionel Messi is the best participant of all time and his opinion would now not exchange even supposing the ahead had now not guided Argentina to the World Cup identify in Qatar, the Spaniard stated on Wednesday.
Messi scored two objectives and once more within the shootout as he led Argentina to an emotional 4-2 win on consequences over France on Sunday, with the general finishing 3-3 after 120 mins of breathtaking motion.
The 35-year-old, who loved a trophy-laden spell beneath Guardiola throughout his time at Barcelona, additionally received the Golden Ball award for perfect participant with supporters announcing his efficiency had additional increased his standing.
“Everyone has (an) opinion but nobody can doubt that he’s there as the greatest of all time,” Guardiola informed newshounds ahead of Thursday’s League Cup fourth-round conflict in opposition to Liverpool.
“For me, he’s the best, it’s difficult to understand that a player can compete with what he’s done.
“The individuals who have observed Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano or Diego Maradona… the reviews are sentimental, however the different facet, if he (Messi) don’t have received the World Cup, the opinion and my opinion would not exchange .”
Guardiola said City’s 16 players at the tournament would slowly return for club duty.
“Today, six avid gamers got here again. They had a fantastic, distinctive revel in. Hopefully they arrive again and paintings smartly and in 4 years they are able to have any other revel in in Canada, Mexico and the United States,” Guardiola said.
“The avid gamers who have been on the World Cup are in higher situation than the avid gamers who have been right here. Sergio (Gomez), Erling (Haaland), Riyad (Mahrez) and Cole (Palmer), they are lacking the rhythm a bit of in comparison to Rodri or Manuel Akanji.
“I’m not concerned about March or April. Now every player has had different managers, a different competition… we have an important game tomorrow, then (in the Premier League) against Leeds (United). The January schedule is demanding so we want them back as soon as possible.”
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