Lionel Messi had zero doubts when naming his footballing idol and it's not Diego Maradona

Lionel Messi had zero doubts when naming his footballing idol and it's not Argentina icon Diego Maradona.

Messi is the idol for so many players across the world, having achieved virtually everything with club and country.

He won four Champions League titles during his legendary spell at Barcelona and achieved the ultimate goal with Argentina, winning the World Cup in 2022.

But before Messi became the phenomenon we know today, he was just a little boy from Rosario with a dream of making it as a professional footballer.

Maradona aside, Messi admired another Argentinean, claiming he 'loved' him.

He spoke glowingly about his fellow countryman Pablo Aimar, who, like Messi, made his name in Spain's La Liga.

Aimar rose to prominence at River Plate before Valencia secured his services.

He moved to the Spanish outfit in January 2001 and went onto make 216 appearances for the club, scoring 34 goals.

Aimar, now 45, won two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup during his time at Valencia.

On Aimar, the 37-year-old told Adidas Football: "Apart from Maradona, who always comes first for Argentines, Pablo Aimar was the player I admired the most. I loved him very much."

Lionel Messi and Pablo Aimar during a La Liga fixture. Image: Getty

Aimar also played for Real Zaragoza and Benfica before calling time on his storied career in 2015.

At the time of his retirement, Messi hailed his compatriot as a 'great player' and 'one of my idols' as well as thanking him 'for all the enjoyment you gave us with your magic'.

In 2020, Aimar called Messi his 'all-time favourite'.

He told FIFA: "For me, the best is always Messi. He is my all-time favourite."

Messi and Aimar played with each other for a few years at international level.

They were both selected for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where Argentina were knocked out by the hosts.