Argentina and Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi showered praise on legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane in a recent interview.

Zidane is widely regarded as one of the finest players to grace the football field. The Frenchman was known for his immaculate playmaking skills, dribbling ability, and elegance on the ball.

Zidane won 13 major titles for club and country, including the FIFA World Cup (1998) and the UEFA Champions League (2001-02), during a 17-year-long senior career.

The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner made over 200 appearances each for Juventus and Real Madrid before hanging up his boots in 2006.

Messi recently sat down with the 51-year-old Frenchman for an interview put in place by Adidas Football. The Argentine superstar lauded Zidane and called him 'one of the greatest players in history'.


Messi said (h/t @AlbicelesteTalk on X):

"I am not saying this because he is here, but I have said it several times before. Zidane is one of the greatest players in history, and I have always admired and loved him. I used to follow him a lot in Madrid and I also suffered from him a lot because I am from Barcelona. Zidane is elegance, art, magic and everything.”

“I have many memories of him, including his goal against Leverkusen in the Champions League final, his goals against Brazil in the World Cup final, the iconic spinning move he used to do, and the famous Valencia goal."


Like Messi, Zidane played in two FIFA World Cup finals — losing and winning one each. He scored a brace in the 1998 edition when France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final and also got his name on the scoresheet in the 2006 final against Italy. However, He was sent off for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi, with Les Bleus losing the final on penalties.


" I have not regretted anything in my career, but the 2014 World Cup final is still stuck in my mind, although I can forget it a little with this World Cup..."

Messi scored four goals and provided an assist in six 2014 FIFA World Cup matches before the final against Germany. But the former Barcelona superstar was largely kept quiet by the German's solid backline.Mario Gotze came on in extra time to score the winner and hand Germany their fourth FIFA World Cup title. Eight and a half years later, Messi finally got his hands on the coveted trophy when Argentina beat France in the final on penalties (3-3 A.E.T).

OJEEMAH:
Some people can’t relate.

ThierryJay:

AImiron:



SOURCE

God1000:
Two iconic footballers, I so much admire the humility of Messi.


Meanwhile my heart bleeds as the war rages on in Gaza with nearly 12,000 Palestinian deaths, displacement and complete destruction of infrastructure by apartheid Israeli government, I urge the christian extremists supporting the genocide to repent or face the wrath of almighty God.


Israelis are not even christians, so why supporting them.

Israelis are the greatest mass murderers in modern times and they will be held accountable for all their atrocities

Some of you supporting the massacre of innocent women, children and the elderly are worse than ISIS and Hamas

I hate Israelis because they are the most despicable and hateful people on earth, these folks recently threw away the blood some Africans willingly donated to save their lives

mayor1814:
Normally history best players list is like this, devoid of sentiment:

Messi,
Maradona,
Pele,
Cruyff,
Beckenbaeur,
Zidane,
Ronaldo de Lima,
C. Ronaldo,

Raskimonojendor:
Prof Zinedane Zidane was a delight to watch with that his bald head in the centre. The football stays glued to his feet.

God1000:
Two iconic footballers, I so much admire the humility of Messi.


Meanwhile my heart bleeds as the war rages on in Gaza with nearly 12,000 Palestinian deaths, displacement and complete destruction of infrastructure by apartheid Israeli government, I urge the christian extremists supporting the genocide to repent or face the wrath of almighty God.


Israelis are not even christians, so why supporting them.

Israelis are the greatest mass murderers in modern times and they will be held accountable for all their atrocities

Some of you supporting the massacre of innocent women, children and the elderly are worse than ISIS and Hamas

I hate Israelis because they are the most despicable and hateful people on earth, these folks recently threw away the blood some Africans willingly donated to save their lives

God1000:
Two iconic footballers, I so much admire the humility of Messi.


Meanwhile my heart bleeds as the war rages on in Gaza with nearly 12,000 Palestinian deaths, displacement and complete destruction of infrastructure by apartheid Israeli government, I urge the christian extremists supporting the genocide to repent or face the wrath of almighty God.


Israelis are not even christians, so why supporting them.

Israelis are the greatest mass murderers in modern times and they will be held accountable for all their atrocities

Some of you supporting the massacre of innocent women, children and the elderly are worse than ISIS and Hamas

I hate Israelis because they are the most despicable and hateful people on earth, these folks recently threw away the blood some Africans willingly donated to save their lives

God1000:
Two iconic footballers, I so much admire the humility of Messi.


Meanwhile my heart bleeds as the war rages on in Gaza with nearly 12,000 Palestinian deaths, displacement and complete destruction of infrastructure by apartheid Israeli government, I urge the christian extremists supporting the genocide to repent or face the wrath of almighty God.


Israelis are not even christians, so why supporting them.

Israelis are the greatest mass murderers in modern times and they will be held accountable for all their atrocities

Some of you supporting the massacre of innocent women, children and the elderly are worse than ISIS and Hamas

I hate Israelis because they are the most despicable and hateful people on earth, these folks recently threw away the blood some Africans willingly donated to save their lives