Lionel Messi has revealed who he believes is the greatest sportsperson of all time, Soccernet.football reports.
The debate over football’s greatest player often includes Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as legends like Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, and Alfredo Di Stefano.
Currently playing for Inter Miami in the United States, Messi has expressed admiration for American sports, specifically American football, which he began following recently.
While his affection for Maradona and Pele is widely known, Messi has, however, named basketball legend Michael Jordan as his GOAT.
“Michael Jordan is the greatest ever,” Messi said in a conversation with Argentine journalist Juan Pablo Varsky on YouTube.
“After watching ‘The Last Dance,’ it was impressive. It brought me closer to understanding him. Many people ask me for photos – why couldn’t I ask him for one? It would be really nice.”
‘The Last Dance,’ released on Netflix in 2020, highlights Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls, focusing on his final season in 1997/98. Jordan won his sixth NBA Championship and was named Finals MVP that year. He was also the season MVP and briefly came out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003.
Jordan set numerous records, including 14 NBA All-Star appearances and scoring 3,041 points in the 1986/87 season. He also won four Olympic gold medals.