00:00Lionel Messi, that's probably 500,000 times in my life already, is probably the best player I saw in my
00:11lifetime, that's how it is.
00:13Lionel Messi already had claims to the title of the greatest footballer in history before the 2022 World Cup,
00:20but victory in Qatar gave the Argentine a stranglehold on the mantle.
00:25Everyone has his opinion, but nobody can doubt that he's there with the greatest all the time.
00:32For me, I said many times, I've been the...
00:36It's the best.
00:39If he would not have win the World Cup, the opinion about what he has done for the World Football,
00:45or my personal opinion, that how he's a player would not change absolutely anything.
00:52Those things that Messi has done for World Football are both tangible and esoteric.
00:59There's the record eight Ballon d'Or awards, an Olympic gold medal,
01:04and the only two-time winner of the FIFA World Cup golden ball.
01:11Then there's the manner in which those trophies have been achieved.
01:14The quick feet, the vision, the unrivaled ability to unlock the tightest of defences.
01:23Messi was the jewel in the crown of the Barcelona side that dominated European football,
01:28allowing Pep Guardiola to perfect the most brilliant attacking style the game had ever seen.
01:35I imagine that during Di Stefano's era, people used to say there was nobody like him.
01:40And then when Cruyff came along, people said there was nobody like him.
01:43With Maradona also, there was nobody like him.
01:46I will also mention Pelé, because I don't want him to be offended.
01:49Nowadays, the throne belongs to this kid, and only he will decide until when.
01:57Despite Messi's undoubted brilliance, the criticism hanging over him for the majority of his career
02:02was that he only performed at club level.
02:09Four World Cups delivered only frustration, and the Copa America 2 remained out of reach.
02:15It seemed one of the most magical artists to ever grace the game was destined to leave unfulfilled.
02:24At age 34, entering the final act of his storied career,
02:29Messi left the home comforts of the camp now for the unfamiliarity of the Parc des Princes.
02:36He went on to star in the 2021 Copa America,
02:40ending the tournament the top scorer and its best player.
02:43He lifted the trophy for the first time in his career in the most fitting stadium imaginable.
02:49Rio de Janeiro's MaracanĂ£, home of arch-rivals Brazil.
02:57Finally, Messi and Argentina dared to dream.
03:04There is a lot of excitement about a positive World Cup.
03:09We won the Copa America.
03:12After trying so many times, I finally managed to win a title with a national team.
03:21So after that trophy, there is a lot of excitement for what is ahead of us.
03:30Messi's World Cup career began with back-to-back quarterfinal exits in 2006 and 2010.
03:38At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he captained Argentina and dragged them almost single-handedly to the final.
03:46He also took home the golden ball as the tournament's best player,
03:49but was powerless to stop Germany capping their incredible renaissance.
03:55More heartbreak followed in 2018 in Russia,
03:58when a nervy group stage led to a round of 16 defeat to eventual champions France.
04:06But 2022 was the crowning glory.
04:12Despite a shock-opening defeat to Saudi Arabia,
04:15Messi guided the Alba Celeste to the top of Group C,
04:19then scored in every knockout match as Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia and finally France were overcome.
04:25The latter following a gripping penalty shootout.
04:32It was the fairytale ending to a magical career.
04:38I've always said that collective awards are better than individual ones.
04:44And for every player, to win a World Cup is the pinnacle.
04:51So is there now any doubt over the mantle of the greatest?
04:57He's the best footballer in the world, the best of all time.
05:01The record goalscorer in the history of La Liga,
05:04the most recorded assists in football history,
05:07and named in the FIFA Pro World XI for a preposterous 17 consecutive seasons.
05:15Nobody has ever graced football's greatest stage, like Lionel Messi.
05:19I'll see you next time on the��i.
05:191
05:20Let's playÑ‡Đ½Đ¾ zoomed.
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