Xavi praises Lionel Messi as the Michael Jordan of football and says he is ‘incomparable. I’m almost inhuman’
Xavi believes Lionel Messi is ‘almost human’ after watching his former Barcelona team-mate destroy Algeria in Argentina’s World Cup opener.
Messi shrugged off pre-tournament injury concerns to deliver another top-class finish, scoring a hat-trick as the defending champions opened their campaign in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 3-0 win.
Xavi, who played with Messi at Camp Nou for 11 years, was not surprised by the Inter Miami star’s ability to silence doubters and says it is part of his genes.
Writing in The Athletic, Xavi said: “I get emotional when I look at him now. I continued until I was 39, but I was in the Qatari league at that time and I stopped playing for Spain years ago. Leo is still at that age, but if you look at him he is still the same. He hasn’t changed. Look at the way his feet are still moving, that little slip after winning the World Cup, it would have won the World Cup again. in 2022, but he is such a competitive animal that he is sure to win it again.
“I have no doubts that Argentina will reach the final stage. And we will see the best Messi. This is his time. He is preparing for this mentally, although many people say that he is not in good physical condition, that he is not the same. Then he goes out and scores a hat-trick.
“I sent Leo a message after the Algeria game. I told him he was a joke, that I could only laugh when I saw what he did. It was crazy, crazy stuff. But that’s Leo. He always comes at the right time. For me, he’s incomparable. He’s incomparable. He’s almost inhuman.”
Xavi compared Messi to Michael Jordan who is credited with changing the game of basketball.
He continued: “I like to say that he is the Michael Jordan of football, in football there is no one who can be compared to him, he has surpassed the old masters because of his longevity: he has been the best player in the last 20 years.
“His mentality is amazing. For me, that’s what makes him unique. He can’t stand defeat. He has the right spirit for football and the perfect body: his body is made for the game. Forget about the goals he scored against Algeria; look at his all-round play, his physical condition, the sheer motivation and ambition in that game that Algeria will never bring. matched.
“I could see he was a special talent at the age of 16, but to stay that long is amazing.
“I don’t believe we will see a footballer like him again.”
Messi’s ability was evident from day one – Xavi
Xavi said that Messi’s ability was obvious on the first day he trained with the Barca first team.
“I still remember that first training session. The way he controlled the ball, the way he dribbled, the way he passed, the way he connected with his teammates… he could do everything. He was amazing,” he said.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and the other old players – Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes, Deco, Ronaldinho. We just looked at each other, as if to say, ‘This is not normal.’ Leo was only 16 and the best player at the club, immediately. “
Messi is expected to captain Argentina again when they face Austria in Dallas tomorrow afternoon.
