Every child around every corner of the world who loves playing football aspires to be Lionel Messi and follow on in the incredible legacy he has left behind for them. Lionel Messi is one of the finest players in the world and is the most skilled player in the entire universe.
His skills know no bounds and are completely out of this world. Whatever he does with the ball just feels magical and mesmerizing to watch. Having been at the top of the scene for the past and a half decade, Messi has been the footballer everybody looks up to.
Not only do upcoming talents or kids, but also top-tier players idolize Messi and his work. They love watching him play, they love playing with him, and many even love just sharing the field with him. Let us take a look at the top players and learn more about 10 football players who consider Lionel Messi as their idol.
10. Frenkie de Jong
Following in the footsteps of his idol Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong of Netherlands made his way to the La Liga club Barcelona. He believes that Messi is the best in the world and the sole reason for his move to Barcelona.
Frenkie admits that he has been watching Messi since his childhood and believes that he is the best in the scene. He also says that Messi has been the best player in the world for 15 years straight and has achieved a feat no other can.
9. Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez is one of the finest young talents of the current generation. He plays for the premier league club Manchester City as a forward/winger.
Alvarez plays for the Argentine football team alongside his idol Lionel Messi and feels overwhelmed sharing a jersey with him. alvarez says that Messi has been a Hero to him and it is a pleasure for him to play alongside him for the country.
8. Alphonso Davies
One of the best defensive players and greatest young talents of the current generation Alphonso Davies is yet another player who grew up idolizing Lionel Messi.
When he was playing against Messi in a match he later shares a moment where he calls his dad and his dad replied ‘So you’re playing against your favorite player, I see.’
7. Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is among the very few players who are in their teenage and still have made a great name for themselves. This 19-year-old plays for the Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen as an attacking midfielder and also for the Germany National football team.
When asked about his idol, Florian Wirtz without any hesitation or paise spells or Lionel Messi. He has idolized Messi since his childhood and has always been in love with his game and skills.
6. Raheem Sterling
Jamaican player Raheem Sterling is one of the best-attacking midfielders in the world. He currently plays for the premier league club Chelsea and was an integral part of the Manchester City squad before.
When asked about his idol he went on to name both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as his idols and also added to his statement that watching them is an amazing experience. Both players have set their lives to play football is what Sterling believes.
5. Lautaro Martinez
Inter Milan’s ace striker Lautaro Martinez also plays for the Argentine national football team and is one of their primary players. Martinez is just 25 years old and has played 40 matches for Argentina scoring 21 goals in total.
And when asked about his teammate and idol Lionel Messi he replied “He is generous; he shows me his movements, he teaches me to find spaces that apparently do not exist.” and showed his gratitude towards Messi.
4. Ansu Fati
Another teenage player on the list comes in the form of Barcelona forward Ansu Fati. Ansu is just 19 years old and is part of Spain’s main squad that represents the nation in various international formats.
Ansu Fati is also one of the players who went on the path to follow in the footsteps of their idol Lionel Messi. Ansu Fati remembers him being fascinated by the incredible plays that Messi used to pull off with ease during his prime.
3. Emile Smith Rowe
A product of Arsenal’s youth academy, Emile Smith Rowe currently plays for the Premier League club Arsenal as an attacking midfielder. Alongside, he also plays for the England national football team at just the age of 22.
When questioned about his idols and best players in the world, Emile goes on to name two players from the same team. He places Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta above everyone else and admits that when he was a kid he used to look up to these two players.
2. Paul Pogba
Pogba is one of the greatest midfielders of all time. His excellence has led to victory for his club and country on multiple occasions. Pogba currently plays for Juventus but was an integral player of the Manchester United squad before that.
He also plays for France’s national football team and was an integral part of the squad that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Pogba said that he enjoys watching Messi play and he thinks everything about Messi is special. He also adds to it and said “Messi and football are two things that go together.”
1. Neymar
Neymar is himself one of the greatest players of all time. If there is somebody after Messi and Ronaldo, it has to be Neymar. Neymar plays for the Brazil National football team when not playing for his club PSG.
And when his team lost the Copa America to the Argentine team, Neymar went out of his way and said the following: “Losing hurts me, it hurts me… it’s something I haven’t learned to live with yet. When I lost, I went to give a hug to the biggest and best in history that I saw playing.”
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