La Liga President Has A Message To Anyone Who Doesn't Think Lionel Messi Is The GOAT

He may be a self-confessed Madridsta but when push comes to shove, La Liga president Javier Tebas has no doubts as to who is the greatest player of all time.

Tebas, who has worked for eleven different La Liga clubs in the past, strongly believes Lionel Messi "is the greatest in history." and has expressed his views on a number of occasions.

He has even gone as far as saying the Barcelona forward should have a trophy named after him to commemorate the best player in the league.

"I believe that Messi will be the greatest player of all time, even if he isn't already," he said in October last year.

"Messi has been playing since he was a kid and always at the absolute top, top level. He never wavers. It would be a good idea to create a trophy in the future for the best player of that season that has Messi's name on it."

In a more recent interview with Spanish radio station COPE, the La Liga president has once again spoke of his admiration for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

If you think Cristiano Ronaldo or Diego Maradona is the greatest, then you are sadly mistaken, according to the 56-year-old:

"I am a Madridista, but anyone who doesn't say Messi is the best player in history doesn't know football," said Tebas.

Well there you go.

Image: PA

When it comes to the GOAT tag, Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi was voted as the greatest footballer of all time by SPORTbible's trusted audience.

He beat the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele and Diego Maradona to the prestigious title.

In a four way poll, 26,104 people voted for their GOAT on Twitter, with five-time Balon d'Or winner Messi coming out on top with 44% of the vote.

Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo was a close second, receiving 36% of the vote while Pele and Diego Maradona came in third and fourth with 15% and 5% of the vote, respectively.

SPORTbible fans rightly pointed out that legendary strikers Emile Heskey, Marlon Harewood and Stern John should have been included in the vote, but we can't please everyone, I'm afraid.

Do you agree with Tebas' statement about Messi? Is the GOAT?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Messi, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, La Liga

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_