The Argentine may have only finished fifth in the 2018 Ballon d'Or, but the Frenchman still thinks he has quality no one else possesses
Robert Pires says not even his former France team-mates Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry played at the same level as Lionel Messi, who "has something no one else has".
Pires enjoyed a distinguished career and won many major titles at both club and international level with France, Arsenal and Marseille, playing alongside some of the world's biggest stars.
Arguably chief among them were fellow countryman Zidane and Henry, with whom he won the 1998 World Cup under Aime Jacquet.
Pires joined Villarreal in 2006 and his four-year stay saw him feature against a number of other modern greats, including Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo.
But, for Pires, none of them – not even Zidane and Henry – hold a candle to Messi.
The ex-Arsenal winger referenced the Barca talisman's match-winning display against Espanyol last weekend, during which he dispatched two exquisite free-kicks to set up a 4-0 victory.
"If he plays like he did against Espanyol, it is impossible to stop him," Pires told Mundo Deportivo. "It was incredible.
"I have played with Zidane, Henry and [Juan Roman] Riquelme, and against Ronaldinho and Cristiano, but Messi has something that nobody else has.
"I don't know if he is the best in history, but there are few where he is."
Messi could have been playing in a front three with Antoine Griezmann, a compatriot of Pires', had things turned out differently before the World Cup.
Griezmann was strongly linked with a move to Barca, but in the end, he opted to remain with Atletico, a decision Pires thinks was probably wise.
"It was his decision and you have to respect it," Pires said. "He thought that it was the best place for him to play because my question is: where would he have played if he had gone to Barca?
"You do not take away Messi from [Luis] Suarez, or vice versa. They are superior to Griezmann, who could play some matches, but not all of them, as is the case at Atletico. That is the difference."
Bcbarathan26
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PrinceSl
273
Everyone who understand football know it that Messi is the best ever, Forget Pele and Maradona they are just threatened because their position at the top have been taken by Messi.
dhan_dhan
255
but you haven't played with this man, you won't have anything to talk about ur gonna be speechless. Greatest of all time he's has proved him self first player to win ballon d'or in two different clubs. well the rubbed him of the 6th. Talent without hardwork is useless. he's an example to kids. my idol
Longlife2000
227
You see how Ronaldo fans are crying when they had what Pires said but it's nothing but the truth. ...😂😂😂👇
Christopher_Robin
225
Stop already please. Do you guys ( who put up this article) know how many hate comments are gonna come up because of this. Everyone has their own opinion. And mine......none. I never really thought of comparing these two and never want to. They are both amazing. Can we just accept that instead of fighting over who is better? It'll make the world a better place. #Zid #LM10
Davichi
206
Here comes another top player who has no tires with Messi expressing what a few still deny and for those saying Pires didn't play with Ronaldo, you fail to realize that he didn't play with Messi too, but he knows both of them as we do. .. Enjoy with this 👇
OBIVICTORY
175
Yeah messi, is really d best, easy a small kid knows that. Dribbling, scoring, assisting, trophies, leader All hail king messi
Jattfanmessida
10
but you haven't played with this man, you won't have anything to talk about ur gonna be speechless. Greatest of all time he's has proved him self first player to win ballon d'or in two different clubs. well the rubbed him of the 6th. Talent without hardwork is useless. he's an example to kids. my idol
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Watch pogo still a kid..Read carefully he wrote here that he played against Your hero...
Wemcklnsz
10
but you haven't played with this man, you won't have anything to talk about ur gonna be speechless. Greatest of all time he's has proved him self first player to win ballon d'or in two different clubs. well the rubbed him of the 6th. Talent without hardwork is useless. he's an example to kids. my idol
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He shd even win Ballon dor in heaven what Pires has said he has said it and there is nothing anyone can do abt it.Messi is above Ronaldo.Ronaldo is great too but messi is on nearly everyone lips bc he is the best.
Iamtom_davidonIG
8
but you haven't played with this man, you won't have anything to talk about ur gonna be speechless. Greatest of all time he's has proved him self first player to win ballon d'or in two different clubs. well the rubbed him of the 6th. Talent without hardwork is useless. he's an example to kids. my idol
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Who told you Messi doesn't work hard? look at his free kick accuracy improvement. The guy is also working hard and is another level. Remove Messi's goals, he is still the top assist provider in the game, remove his assists, still among top 3 play makers yearly. But if you remove goals from Ronaldo, he is finished.
Akhtar76
8
but you haven't played with this man, you won't have anything to talk about ur gonna be speechless. Greatest of all time he's has proved him self first player to win ballon d'or in two different clubs. well the rubbed him of the 6th. Talent without hardwork is useless. he's an example to kids. my idol
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I think u were madrid fan now change to juve ...loyalty level haha......