Lionel Messi named the football “GOAT” as he equals the most number of hat-tricks with Ronaldo.
In a decisive and unanimous gesture, Lionel Messi has just been named the “Greatest Of All Time” in the game of football.
This declaration has finally put an end to lingering debate and arguments over who the better player is between him and his close rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
This award also recognizes Lionel Messi as the most decorated player in the history of the game of football- wherever he has played, he has won trophies and individual awards.
The award was delivered to Messi by Juan Ignacio Gallardo, Director of MARCA, and Jorge Mas, the owner of Inter Miami the football club with whom Messi plights his trade with presently.
Expressing his joy and gratitude for the award and recognition, the greatest football player of all time said:
“We already have a long-standing relationship with MARCA. They were very good at choosing an Argentine and a Catalan. They are my two homes. It’s where I’m happy.
“But today we are also in a place where we are very happy. Without knowing me, they were very right”
Various personalities from all walks of life gathered at the Chase Stadium−the venue of the award ceremony−to pay respect and honour to Messi.
Lionel Messi has forty-six (46) collective titles and fifty-six (56) individual titles which have made him incomparable and his achievement barely possible to attain in near future.
Question: Do you remember your first title as a kid?
Messi: “I saw pictures of my first trophy as a kid, but I don’t remember it. Surely, like some of my children, I wasn’t aware of everything that was to come. I enjoyed soccer from a very young age. It’s my passion.”
Lionel Messi Named The Football “GOAT”
Question: Do you count titles?
Messi: “I don’t count titles. Mostly the individual ones. It was spectacular to see the video.
A lot of things go through my head. We’ve also had some difficult moments.
Not everything is pretty. The disappointments helped me to grow.”
Question: Argentina National Team:
“I love playing soccer.
I was recently in a packed Monumental with Argentina, chanting my name and that of my teammates.
I’ve been through a lot of bad times with Argentina and I’m grateful for the moment I’m living now.
I’m taking advantage of it because time is running out.
The love I have for this sport is very great. We came here to make this club bigger, I didn’t come here to retire. We are lucky to win so many titles.”
Photo Credit: @lionelmessi
Messi Expresses Gratitude:
“Thank you very much for this recognition, both the work and the drawing.
I know it was with great affection because of what they told me and we are going to find a little place for it because it deserves it.”
Question: Next goal or dream?
Messi: “I was able to fulfill all my dreams and achieved many more than I dreamed of as a kid. God gave it to me.
I was able to achieve the biggest dream of a player, which is a World Cup.
“I won many titles in the club of my life, which is Barcelona. I also won in Paris and now with Inter. I’m fighting to continue to achieve many more things”.
Question: World Cup 2026?
Messi: “Things pass by and I don’t get ahead of myself. I try to enjoy it day by day. When the time comes we’ll see, I don’t like to accelerate times. I hope I can continue to perform at this level to feel good and be happy. That’s more important to me than whether I’m going to make it or not.”
Messi On Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro’s (His children’s) criticism
“Our children will reproach me for not being here. Now they understand everything. I love what I do. I enjoy being on the field. The other day I enjoyed the Monumental chanting my name and that’s the best. I have fought hard for this moment to come and I enjoy it more than ever.
”When the end is near… you value many more things. Coming here was not a retirement. It was to make a very new club great. We are close to continuing to win titles,” Messi concluded.
Lionel Messi Named The Football “GOAT”
Related News
Lionel Bangs Hat−Trick In 6-0 Win Over Bolivia
Lionel Messi was involved in five goals playing for Argentina against Bolivia, in a game where he added three goals to his name, moving level with Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal for the highest number of hat-tricks in football.
Lionel Messi banged his tenth hat-trick and created two goals for Argentina in a South American Qualifier match for the 2026 World Cup which saw Argentina defeat Bolivia 6-0 in front of their in-awe fans at the Monumental Stadium.
Having just made his second international appearance following an injury sustained while on Cope America duty in July.
On Tuesday, after a mistake by Bolivian defender Marcelo Suarez in the 19th minute into the game, Messi opened the scoring.
Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra was the hero of the day after he made a couple of fine saves to impede the Argentines from making a mess of the game.
However, Argentina found a way to make it a 3-0 before half-time, courtesy goals from Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez from superb assists by Lionel Messi.
The Argentina national team was total in dominance of the second half as well.
They had a goal by Nicolas Otamendi disallowed for offside but in the 70th minute, Nahuel Molina’s sublime assist to Thiago Almada resulted in another and made it 4-0 for the hosts.
Their “captain fantastic” Lionel Messi, 37, brought more joy into the hearts of the Argentina fans heading to the end of the game after skipping through two Bolivia defenders before launching a hot shot past Viscarra, who had been a phenomenon all through the game, to record his second of the game.
More so, it only took Messi two more minutes to extend his goal tally from brace to hat-trick before he netted his third and 112 goals for Argentina.
This goal which has brought Messi in pair with Cristiano Ronaldo for most hat-tricks scored in International Men’s Football.
Expressing joy and satisfaction being back in action following his return from injury in July, he said:
“It’s nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people, it moves me how they shout my name.”
“This drives me. Enjoying being happy where I am.
Despite my age, when I’m here, I feel like a kid because I’m comfortable with this team,” he added.
However, Messi refused to comment, when asked, if he would be playing at the next World Cup (2026).
Argentina tops the South American World Cup Qualifying Standing with twenty (22) points from ten (10) matches, three (3) points adrift Columba in the second spot with nineteen points.
Bolivia have not been to the World Cup for thirty years and this is another shot for them. They are on twelve (12) points.
The first six countries automatically secure qualification berth in the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Messi Named The Football “GOAT”
