Diego Simeone has named Lionel Messi as the best player in the world currently.
Diego Simeone has voted Lionel Messi as the world’s current best player over Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentinian has watched both the players from close quarters, but he chose his compatriot, unsurprisingly.
The Atletico Madrid manager also believed that Lionel Messi carried Argentina to a third-placed finish in the Copa America this summer. There were plenty of criticisms on the player regarding zero goals from open play in the tournament, but Simeone takes plenty of positives from those five games.
“Messi is the best player in the world. Why wouldn’t I want to coach him,” Simeone was quoted as saying as he discussed Argentina’s Copa America 2019 campaign. Argentina had lost 2-0 to Brazil in the semifinal of the South American championship last month.
“Messi carried the weight of Argentina in Copa America. I don’t care about other statements, and I believe everyone is free to believe what they want; but I believe he acted as a leader during the tournament,” Simeone said.
“I have never seen Sergio Aguero work as much as he did at this Copa America. I saw good effort from the three attackers and it talks about a message from the coach who looked for a way to win the title,” the Atletico Madrid manager said.
Lionel Messi’s barren land for an International trophy continues after yet another failure in the Copa America this summer. The 32-year-old has played in five finals for his country, but has failed to cross the final hurdle when it really matters.
On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo clinched the second trophy with his nation as Portugal lifted the Nations League by beating Netherlands 1-0 in the final. Comparisons are fine, but the rivalry between these two will always be unparalleled.
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What’s next?
Lionel Messi and Barcelona will kick off their La Liga campaign from the third week of August. With Frenkie De Jong and Antoine Griezmann in the roster, expectation bar has been set high at Nou Camp.
