Although FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is tied on five Ballons d'Or with Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, here are 10 top names in football who believe the Argentine is the best player in the history of the game.
Tired of reading? Click through the gallery above to see 10 football people who have claimed that Messi is the greatest player in the history of the beautiful game.
Over the years, the forward has wowed crowds with his dribbling style, reminiscent of the legendary Diego Maradona, who many feel he has surpassed.
Messi's numbers in front of goal play a huge role in the current status he holds in the game, although it is his all-around play that leads supporters and pundits alike to believe that he could very well be the sport's greatest player ever.
Luis Enrique, the player's former manager at Barca, certainly features among them, along with the late Johan Cruyff, who once famously predicted that Messi would win at least five Ballons d'Or titles – a feat he has already achieved.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is also among those who believe Messi is the best ever, as is former Chelsea skipper John Terry and the Argentine's current club manager Ernesto Valverde. The Spanish tactician used to go up against the Argentine with Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga, and is now relieved to be on the same side he is.
Former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria also features, along with Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, who was previously among those challenging Messi for the Ballon d'Or.
Ex-AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani once insisted the Argentina captain is the sport's best player ever, and backed up his claim by saying he has seen Maradona and Pele play.
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A quote from one of Messi's former Blaugrana colleagues Carles Puyol also features, as does Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone.
Who do you think is the best player to have ever played football? Let us know in the comments section below.
