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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Catalan coach worked with Argentine icon</li><li>Helped to make him a global superstar</li><li>Believes South American is the greatest</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Pep Guardiola settles GOAT debate by calling Lionel Messi 'the best football player ever' - but admits he might be disrespecting Pele & Diego Maradona

<p>Guardiola found himself in the fortunate position of inheriting a star-studded Barca squad when taking the managerial reins at Camp Nou in 2008. Messi would earn superstar status under the demanding Catalan coach, becoming <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-ex-barcelona-portugal-star-deco-diplomatic-ideal-world-answer-goat-debate/bltd40c84d158ed2236" target="_blank">one of the most fearsome attackers that the world has ever seen</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Messi’s output increased every year under Guardiola, across four seasons, with his final campaign working with the now Manchester City boss <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ninety-one-goals-in-a-year-73-in-one-season-four-golden/blt4aa7833bef043d7b" target="_blank">delivering 73 goals in all competitions</a>. The Argentine superstar also won four successive Ballons d’Or between 2009 and 2012.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>He now has eight Golden Balls to his name, a record-breaking haul of major honours and countless entries in the history books. With that in mind, Guardiola has told Italian TV show <a href="https://x.com/chetempochefa/status/1845621048965775858 " target="_blank">Che Tempo, Che Fa</a> when asked to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/nobody-can-doubt-messi-the-goat-guardiola-argentina-world-cup-hero-ahead-maradona-pele/blt603c906b80093787" target="_blank">offer his take on Messi</a>: “For me it’s easy to say he’s the best of all time, but the stars came together at the right moment. The GOAT? Maybe that’s a lack of respect to Pele and [Diego] Maradona, but for me, he is. I’ve never seen someone like him as a coach, you can’t imagine him maintaining this continuity for 15-20 years. When you see him up close, you think of Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, we were lucky to work with him.”</p>

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

<p>Messi is still going strong at 37 years of age, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-lifts-trophy-46-inter-miami-superstar-most-decorated-player-all-time-inter-miami-supporters-shield-mls-2024/blta5661435124b5e01" target="_blank">more trophies being collected at MLS side Inter Miami</a>. His eternal rival <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-more-dreams-al-nassr-portugal-star-900th-career-goal-aged-39/bltb7aa635ded895fc4" target="_blank">Cristiano Ronaldo is also playing at 39 with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr</a>, while Guardiola is into the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/will-pep-guardiola-stay-man-city-staff-unsure-boss-extend-contract-club-legend-spaniard-energised-title-defence/blt824bc57a9fcd6d81" target="_blank">final year of his contract at reigning Premier League champions City</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Pep Guardiola settles GOAT debate by calling Lionel Messi 'the best football player ever' - but admits he might be disrespecting Pele & Diego Maradona | Goal.com South Africa

Pep Guardiola has offered his opinion on the long-running GOAT debate, with the ex-Barcelona boss calling Lionel Messi “the greatest player ever”.

Pep Guardiola settles GOAT debate by calling Lionel Messi &apos;the best football player ever&apos; - but admits he might be disrespecting Pele &amp; Diego Maradona