Coach Pep Guardiola believes that Lionel Messi has surpassed Pele and Maradona to become the best player of all time.

“For me, it’s easy to say Messi is the best player of all time. It’s disrespectful to Pele and Diego Maradona but as a coach, I’ve never seen anyone like him.

It’s amazing that Messi has maintained his form of scoring two goals and assisting three times per game for 15 years,” coach Pep Guardiola shared on Che Tempo Che Fa on October 13.

Coach Pep Guardiola spent 4 years leading Messi at Barcelona (Photo: Getty).

Pep Guardiola worked with Messi when he was Barcelona’s head coach from 2008 to 2012, when Messi was the leader of the Catalan team. During their four years together, they won 14 titles, including two Champions Leagues and three La Ligas.

This is also the most successful period of the Spanish strategist since taking on a coaching role.

“We are so lucky to see Messi play and this only happens once in a lifetime. Being able to lead him is the best thing for me,” said coach Pep Guardiola.

Messi won the best player award and won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina (Photo: Getty).

Messi is still in impressive form at the age of 37, the Inter Miami striker currently owns 8 Golden Balls, 6 European Golden Shoes and 46 collective titles. The peak of Messi’s career was winning the 2022 World Cup , 2022 Intercontinental Super Cup, 2021 and 2024 Copa America with the Argentina team.

The former Barcelona star has seemingly won everything at his level. Messi could add the MLS Cup to his trophy cabinet later this year if Inter Miami reach the finals and the Argentine can maintain his current form.