Lionel Messi, the iconic Barcelona legend, has stirred the football world by naming Real Madrid and Manchester City as the top football clubs globally.
In an interview with Infobae, Messi highlighted Real Madrid’s recent European success and Manchester City’s exceptional performance under Pep Pep Guardiola.
Messi, who left Barcelona nearly three years ago due to financial constraints under La Liga regulations, first joined Paris Saint-Germain and later moved to MLS side Inter Miami in 2023.
Despite his departure, Messi’s remarks about Real Madrid are likely to irk Barcelona fans.
“Best team in the world? Real Madrid, the current European champions. If we talk about results, Real Madrid is the best,” Messi stated.
He also praised Pep Guardiola, his former Barcelona coach, under whose guidance Manchester City has achieved remarkable success.
“If we are talking about performance-wise, Manchester City, led by Pep, is the best,” Messi added.
Guardiola’s City were eliminated from the Champions League quarter-finals by Real Madrid this season, following a dramatic 4-4 aggregate draw that ended in a penalty shootout.
Real Madrid proceeded to defeat Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and Borussia Dortmund in the final, securing another European title.
Messi and Guardiola nearly reunited in 2020 when Messi sought to leave Barcelona, with City being a potential destination. However, Messi stayed at Camp Nou for another season before eventually departing.
Since leaving Barcelona, Messi won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022, securing his seventh Ballon d’Or, and has significantly boosted interest in MLS by joining Inter Miami.
Messi’s candid comments reflect his admiration for both clubs’ current standing and Guardiola’s managerial prowess, even as he continues to forge his own path in American soccer.
