Former Barcelona midfielder and coach Xavi penned an article for The Athletic in which he compared his former teammate Lionel Messi to basketball legend Michael Jordan. The 38-year-old, who has won eight Ballon d’Or awards, is currently competing in his record sixth World Cup and has already scored a hat-trick in the match against Algeria.
Xavi admitted that Messi’s play still moves him deeply:
“Playing with Leo was incredibly easy. If you can’t combine with Messi, then you simply don’t know how to play football. His game still touches me today. I played until I was 39, but that was in Qatar and outside the national team. Leo is about the same age now, yet he hasn’t changed. Look at his footwork, that quick, small step. Anyone else would have retired after winning the World Cup in 2022, but he’s a born fighter. I’m convinced Argentina will reach the final stages, and we will see the best Messi of his career. He’s the Michael Jordan of football. I don’t think we’ll ever see a player like him again.”
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