With Argentina aiming for a second consecutive world championship, Lionel Messi’s performance in the current World Cup has been a highlight. The iconic number 10, aged 39, started his participation in a resounding way by finding the net three times against Algeria, generating great expectations for what many consider to be his farewell to the World Cup. His recent performance drew rave praise from Xavi Hernández, a former team-mate in Barcelona’s glorious years under Pep Guardiola.
Xavi’s statements, today seeking to establish himself as a prominent coach, were made in an interview with the New York Times, where he assessed the remarkable career that the Argentine star has built on the global football scene.
“I compare him to Michael Jordan in football. There is no other athlete with whom he can be compared, he borders on superhuman”, declared the former midfielder, underlining the significance of such a parallel in combining athletic genius with the ability to maintain supreme performance for decades. Xavi reinforced that Messi surpassed previous legends not only because of his unique ability, but because of his incredible longevity, remaining the best player in the last twenty years and continuing to impress everyone even today.
The mental strength of a true champion
For the Catalan, who is seven years older than the star, the Argentine’s fundamental distinction transcends mere technique, residing in his remarkable psychological capacity and physical persistence. He stated that Messi’s mentality is extraordinary, which really sets him apart as he does not accept defeat. “He has the ideal temperament for football and a perfect physical constitution: his body seems to have been shaped for the sport,” emphasized Xavi. The Barcelona idol asked us to look beyond the goals scored against Algeria, focusing on his overall performance, his physical condition and the immense determination and ambition shown on the field, concluding that his champion mentality is incomparable.
Messi’s supernatural talents as a teenager
The former player also recalled the beginnings of Messi’s career, when the Argentine was integrated into Barcelona’s main squad. Even though he was still a teenager, the prodigy was already causing admiration among more experienced athletes during training. “I remember that first training session well, how he controlled the ball, dribbled, distributed the game, connected with his teammates”, recalled Xavi, describing him as a true phenomenon who, at 16, was already considered almost the club’s best player.
At the end of the conversation, the Barcelona coach expressed his sincere gratitude for having had the opportunity to play alongside one of his great friends and one of the greatest idols in world sport. “Playing with him was simple. If someone can’t get along with Messi, then they don’t know how to play football,” said Xavi. He completed, explaining that, when passing the ball to the star, he returned it with precision and at the right time, always with his best leg. “For me, who always loved passing, it was a huge privilege to play with him. Lionel Messi made me a better player”, he concluded.