Messi in quotes: A world 11 have their say on the six-time Ballon d'Or winner

3 December 2019

Lionel Messi has achieved a record sixth Ballon d'Or. Here, we look at what some of football's other greats have had to say about him through the years - in the 4-3-3 formation in which Messi has typically excelled, naturally...

GOALKEEPER

Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said: I think it's unlikely that any human being again will repeat the numbers that Messi is getting

Getty Images

DEFENDERS

Spain defender Juan Bernat said: Messi is the best player in the world. We'd have to kidnap him to stop him.

Getty Images

Germany defender Jerome Boateng said: Defending Messi one on one is not possible.

Getty Images

Legendary Italy defender Paolo Maldini said: When I see Messi playing, I think he should win the Ballon d'Or every year.

Getty Images

Messi's Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano said: Although he may not be human, it's good that Messi still thinks he is.

Getty Images

MIDFIELDERS

Three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff said: Messi will be the player to win the most Ballons d'Or in history. He will win five, six, seven. He is incomparable.

Getty Images

Former Barcelona winger Luis Figo said: For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure - it's like having an orgasm.

Getty Images

Argentina great Diego Maradona said of Messi: His potential is limitless and I think he's got everything it takes to become Argentina's greatest player.

Getty Images

STRIKERS

Messi's former Barcelona team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic said: He plays like he's on PlayStation, it's unbelievable. People who say otherwise either don't know anything about football or are just talking nonsense.

Getty Images

Ronaldinho, the 2006 Ballon d'Or winner, said: This award says I'm the best player in the world, but I'm not even the best player at Barcelona.

Getty Images

Former England captain Wayne Rooney said: Messi is a joke. For me, the best ever.

Getty Images