At 39 years old, Lionel Messi may have “finished the game”as he himself says, he doesn’t just have admirers. While many observers put him at the top in the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) debate since his coronation at the 2022 World Cup with the Albiceleste, the Argentine striker remains far behind a player like Diego Maradona. At least in the eyes of Denis Balbir, questioned on this subject on TV Monaco.
The former Canal+ and M6 commentator does not mince his words against “la Pulga”, who has just retired internationally. “For me, Messi is… How can I say so as not to shock too much? He’s a good playerhe blurted. He scored a lot of goals, he dribbled, he went for goal, then he went back to the locker room to shower and went home. He’s a good player, but there’s no charisma. »
For him, there is no question of considering the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the best player in history. “Of course not!”decides the journalist. You can’t compare a bar of soap, a transparent guy to… (he is interrupted). For people to love football, you need characters, that counts! But Messi is a piece of cake. There is nothing, it’s empty. You don’t want to know him, you don’t want to see him. »
“The referees were there, penalties in every match, and Messi won the World Cup”
“Maradona, he was also exceptional on the pitch, but he was exceptional everywhere. He passed through Naples, he lifted European cups“, he continues, before returning to the Qatari World Cup won by Lionel Messi and his teammates in the final against the France team. “Can we talk about the World Cup in Qatar? Messi, we gave him the World Cup, we all know it and you all know it”affirms Denis Balbir.
“We know that Messi had to have the World Cup so the referees were there, penalties in every match, and Messi won the World Cuphe denounces. It doesn’t convey anything human, it’s not a human. He’s not someone who attracts people, he’s not nice! » Whether we like him or not, the track record, the records and the undeniable talent of the former Barcelona player still make him a unique player of his kind.
