Lionel Messi will go down as perhaps the greatest player the beautiful game has ever seen when he finally decides to hang up his boots.
Messi has been tearing defences apart for more than two decades, and he is not done yet.
He could still play a role with Argentina this summer when they begin their defence of the FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the USA.
But, at 38 years old, the legendary forward is now very much in the twilight of his career.
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However, a new generation of stars are ready and waiting to step into his place and claim the title of the greatest football player on the planet, and Messi has had his say on who he thinks is the best.
“Who is the best player in the world apart from Messi?” asked the interviewer.
“You can’t pick yourself.
“Who is the best?”
He singled out several of the best players from his time at the top of European football.
The list included Kylian Mbappe, Eden Hazard and Luis Suarez.
“It is hard to pick because there are so many,” replied the Argentine legend.
“Let me think, in my opinion, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Eden Hazard, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Aguero.
“I may have forgotten some, but I am sure any of these players can be the best.”
However, eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that Cristiano Ronaldo was omitted from Messi’s list.
The interviewers were also confused by the decision.
“You mentioned a lot of good players, but you are forgetting someone,” they said.
“He wears the number seven, who’s the number seven.
“Does it come to mind, can you think of who?”
However, Messi was quick to point out that he considers his long-term rival to be in a league of his own.
“Cristiano,” he replied.
“I got him out of the list with me.”
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Football
Jonathan Bray