Lionel Messi didn’t hesitate when naming the best player he’s ever seen live

Lionel Messi has played alongside some of football’s greatest ever players but ranks one player above them all.

Messi has come face-to-face with some of the most talented players to ever grace the planet during his illustrious playing career.

The Argentine graduated from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy to make his debut for the club alongside the likes of Carlos Puyol, Xavi, Deco, Andres Iniesta, Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho.

Messi would go on to form one of the most devastating forward trios in recent memory alongside Neymar Jr and Luis Suarez, helping Barcelona win 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns before departing for Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite being blessed with some of the best teammates a player could ever wish for, it was an opponent who Messi named as the greatest player he’d ever seen live in the flesh.

It wasn’t his long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo as Messi instead gave the nod to Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazario.

“Ronaldo Nazario was a phenomenom,” Messi told TyC Sports in 2020. Of all the strikers I have seen, for me he was the best. An impressive player from any aspect.”

The World Cup winner also paid tribute to Ronaldinho for his guidance during his early days at the Catalan club.

He added: “He helped me a lot. I came into the dressing room at 16-years-old. Doing so and seeing all these greats was difficult. He took me under his wing, he made me feel comfortable, so that I let go.

“On the pitch I was always looking for him. We played for a few years together. In this era I didn’t play much. I would have liked to play a lot more with him.”

Messi’s rivalry with Ronaldo over the years will go down in history but the current Inter Miami star has had nothing but praise for his counterpart over the years.

He told DAZN: “It was a special duel with Cristiano that will remain forever.

“It lasted many years, and it is not easy to maintain certain levels for a long time.

“Our teams were also very demanding: Real Madrid and Barcelona, the two strongest clubs in the world. “Competing as equals for so many years is something that will remain forever.”