Lionel Messi picks the best team in the world and it’s not Barcelona
Lionel Messi picks the best team in the world and it’s not Barcelona
Star footballer Lionel Messi has named the two best teams in the world right now, and none includes any of his former clubs like FC Barcelona or Paris Saint Germain. Representing Argentina in the 2024 Copa America, Messi says that La Liga winners Real Madrid (based on the results) and Premier League giants Manchester City (level of game) are the two top sides in world football.
"Real Madrid is the best team in the world; they have won the Champions League. If you go by results, Real Madrid is the best," Messi said in an interview with Infobae.
Currently in the USA for the multi-team tournament that begins on June 21, Messi said he enjoys watching Pep’s Man City, more so for the manager that he is and how he trains and prepares his squad. Having being trained and managed by modern-day great Pep during his time at Barcelona, Messi said, "I personally like Guardiola's City. I think that any team where Guardiola is will be special because of the way he is, the way he trains and the way he works. He makes his teams play."
While Real Madrid won the La Liga and the Champions League this season, beating Borussia Dortmund in the finale, City won the Premier League for the fourth straight year.
ALSO READ:Euro 2024: Pau Cubarsí, Aleix García miss out on Spain's final 26-man squad
Meanwhile, after quitting Barcelona in 2021, Messi joined the Ligue 1 champions PSG on a two-year contract that ended last year, after which he decided to move out of Europe to play in North America. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now plies his trade for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS).
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What future holds for Messi?
Said to be enjoying his time in the US, Messi will represent Argentina in the Copa America, where his team is placed in Group A alongside Canada, Chile and Peru.
Asked if Argentina walks into the tournament as favourites, considering how well their competitors like Uruguay and Brazil are performing, Messi said the defending champions and current World Cup winners are hot shots for the title.
"I think that Argentina is always the favourite. When a championship starts, be it a world championship, Copa America or whatever, Argentina is a candidate just like Brazil,” Messi said.
Meanwhile, Argentina will play Canada in the tournament opener on June 21.
