sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
'He was something different' – Bojan says Lionel Messi wasn't the best player he played with

Home> Football

Updated 21:25 11 May 2023 GMT+1Published 21:23 11 May 2023 GMT+1

'He was something different' – Bojan says Lionel Messi wasn't the best player he played with

Bojan played alongside Lionel Messi for four years during his time at Barcelona.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Bojan Krkic played with some outstanding players during his 17-year professional career, including Lionel Messi, but the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was not the best.

The former Spain international, who recently announced his retirement at the age of 32, made over 100 appearances for boyhood club Barcelona before spells Roma, AC Milan, Stoke City and more recently Vissel Kobe.

He played with the likes of Andres Iniesta [twice], Francesco Totti and Stephen Ireland in that time but there's one player that stands out from the rest; Ronaldinho.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Bojan said: "Ronaldinho probably was the most special player that I played with.

Advert

"I remember Ronaldinho especially because for me, Ronaldinho is the best player that I saw as a fan and that I played with in my football career."

He added: "Obviously Messi is unbelievable, especially through all the years that he played, and he's still playing and winning all the trophies that he achieved already.

"He's unbelievable, but Ronaldinho was something different. For me, he was special, magic – the way that he played football, the way that he could do it on the field with a smile on his face."

Just 19 days after his 17th birthday, Bojan broke Lionel Messi's record for being the youngest Barcelona player to feature in La Liga after being thrust into the limelight by then-manager Frank Rijkaard.

It was the start of a memorable season for the teenager, who would score 10 times in all.

When speaking about that spell in Barcelona's first-team, Bojan told SPORTbible: "Every day was like a dream for me.

"I was training and sharing a dressing room with players that used to be on posters in my room... one day I had posters of Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho in my room and the next I was playing with some of the biggest stars in the world; all while doing what I loved the most.

"Henry was a big influence. I think he knew how it felt for a young lad to play at a big club. Samuel Eto'o was great, too. Lilian Thuram was a great guy. Andres Iniesta had a big heart.

"I can say these were good people in the dressing room. I felt protected."

So what is Bojan up to these days? After hanging up his boots, the Spaniard teamed up with former teammate Andres Iniesta to launch Barcelona-based cycling brand, Guava Bikes.

At the time of writing, they only have one model for sale, the Guava Spot, a bike that costs more than £5,000.

On top of the Guava project, Bojan is currently in training to take part in gravel cycling – a sport he has grown to love in recent years.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, La Liga

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is the Senior Journalist for SPORTbible, one of the world’s biggest social publishers. He specialises in long-form feature writing and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day. He has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and News Practice.

X

@jackkenmare_

Recommended reads

Tyson Fury explains why his 14-year-old son Prince has “no choice” but to become a boxerGettyTyson Fury targets Jon Jones clash as next move after boxing confirmedGetty“I don’t fight for a country” – Michael 'Venom' Page reveals why he won’t walk out with a flag at UFC LondonGeoff Stellfox/Getty ImagesLerone Murphy details ‘bucket list’ fight ahead of UFC LondonChris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    9 hours ago

    Harvey Barnes to receive England call-up after snubbing international allegiance switch

    The Newcastle winger will replace a player who has withdrawn from the squad ahead of friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

    Football
  • Sky Sports
    9 hours ago

    Antoine Semenyo goes in on Arsenal player during live interview after Carabao Cup win

    Nobody expected Semenyo to call him out like that. Ian Wright even cracked a joke.

    Football
  • Sky Sports
    11 hours ago

    Gary Neville was wrong to call out Rayan Cherki... modern football needs more moments like this

    Cherki decided to showboat in the second-half and was criticised. That shouldn't be the case.

    Football
  • Sky Sports
    12 hours ago

    Ian Wright calls out Mikel Arteta decision vs Man City that cost them Carabao Cup

    The Arsenal legend has revealed the one change he would have made ahead of the final.

    Football
  • Bojan Krkic Exclusive: 'A Cold Tuesday Night In Stoke Is Beautiful... I Fell Back In Love With Football In England'
  • Insane compilation of Lionel Messi in record-breaking year proves it wasn't just about the goals
  • Stephen Ireland now claims Lionel Messi wasn't good against him and he never lost to Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Barcelona will try and sell FIVE first-team stars to generate funds for Lionel Messi