Gary Lineker has made a strong case for Lionel Messi still being the world’s top footballer. The 37-year-old has won the Ballon d’Or eight times but his performances were expected to drop off after he signed for Inter Miami last summer.
The Argentina skipper recently bagged a hat-trick against Bolivia and followed up with another three goals for Inter Miami upon his return to club action. With 20 goals in 19 matches, Messi has propelled Miami to the MLS summit and the forward remains central to the world’s best player discussion.
The Real Madrid trio of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior were among those tipped to succeed Messi, but the Barcelona icon’s influence endures. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker believes Messi, who helped Argentina retain the Copa America this summer, could still be ahead of all his rivals.
“He’d still be the player I want to watch in world football at the moment,” Lineker said. “I don’t think there’s anyone out there who has taken up the mantle in terms of his all-round ability at present.
“Whether that happens with somebody like Kylian Mbappe over time. I’m not sure he’ll ever be on the level of Messi but I don’t think anyone will. I said the same about Diego [Maradona] until Messi came along.”
The debate kicked off after Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer were challenged to create the ultimate football player. They hailed Messi for possibly having the top left foot, passing skills, and dribbling prowess in the game’s history. Backing up Lineker’s point, ex-England star Richards weighed in on why Messi still stands apart from the rest.
“I think he is [the best in the world]. I think he’s still doing the things that other players can’t do, whether it’s touch, technique, scoring goals, finding a pass,” Richards explained. “I think we expected Mbappe to be at that level. He’s still scoring goals for Real Madrid but he’s not really in blistering form. Haaland’s not scored for a few weeks.
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“Vinicius Junior is scoring but the position between him and Mbappe, they’re finding it hard to get the balance right. I’m looking at Rodri, who’s now got a cruciate [injury]. Messi would be my number one.” The agreement between Lineker and Richards spoke volumes and underlined just how highly the MLS superstar is still thought of despite being in the twilight years of his career.
Lineker, meanwhile, wasn’t just content with crowning Messi as the current top dog; he also stirred the pot in the greatest-of-all-time debate by leaving Cristiano Ronaldo out in the cold. The ex-Barcelona forward placed Messi and Diego Maradona as his top two and gave a nod to Pele, but wouldn’t even consider Ronaldo in the GOAT discussion.
“If you’re talking about a debate between Messi and Cristiano, I’m sorry, but as much as I admire Cristiano as a wonderful footballer and truly brilliant goalscorer when it comes to comparing them as footballers, there isn’t a comparison,” Lineker argued. “Messi is possibly the best dribbler we’ve ever seen, along with Diego. He’s also probably the best passer we’ve ever seen and he sees things that no one else has ever seen.
“And his goalscoring numbers are up there with Cristiano’s. You could say Cristiano is the greatest goalscorer we’ve ever seen but Messi’s numbers are very similar. If you’re talking about the best footballer, it’s all-encompassing.”
Ronaldo has 768 goals and 241 assists in 1024 club matches while Messi has 743 goals and 356 assists in his 911 club games. When it comes to trophies, Messi edges it with 39 to Ronaldo’s 33.
