Argentina: Xavi in awe of Lionel Messi

Time and again, Lionel Messi continues to dazzle the football world at this 2026 World Cup. He has become the all-time top scorer in the tournament’s history. Xavi can hardly believe it.

Lionel Messi’s recent displays have prompted his former FC Barcelona teammate, Xavi Hernández, to dedicate several lines to him in The Athletic. “It was very easy to play with him. If you can’t link up with Messi, you simply can’t play football, it’s as simple as that. When you pass the ball to Leo (Lionel Messi), he gives it back to you perfectly,” he said.

Xavi is clearly full of admiration: “Today, it moves me to watch him play. I kept going until I was 39, but I was in Qatar and had already left La Roja a few years before. Leo is that age now and he hasn’t changed. Just look at the way he moves his feet, that quick little step. Anyone else would have retired after winning the World Cup in 2022, but he’s a born competitor.”

For Xavi, Argentina will go all the way on American soil: “I’m convinced Argentina will reach the final stages and we’ll see the best Messi of his career. He’s the Michael Jordan of football. I don’t think we’ll ever see a player like him again.”

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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