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‘Lionel Messi is unique’ - Argentina boss names world’s best players as Lamine Yamal & Kylian Mbappe get top-three billing

<p>South American GOAT Messi has been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/world-cup-final-mls-training-lionel-messi-win-every-game-inter-miami-robert-taylor-explains-argentine-goat/blt7da9315808b3b61a" target="_blank">recognised as the finest player on the planet on eight occasions</a> over the course of his remarkable career, with a record-setting collection of Ballons d’Or being accrued.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He is now 37 years of age, but is showing <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mls-warned-league-without-kingpin-lionel-messi-ex-new-york-red-bulls-winger-shaun-wright-phillips-longer-fix-plea-don-garber/bltbe1949e7fa233938" target="_blank">no sign of slowing down at MLS side Inter Miami</a>. He has already inspired them to trophy triumphs, while earning MVP honours, and remains the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-lionel-messi-lifts-trophy-46-inter-miami-superstar-most-decorated-player-all-time-inter-miami-supporters-shield-mls-2024/blta5661435124b5e01" target="_blank">most decorated player in history with 46 major titles to his name</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi will <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-vs-diego-maradona-juan-roman-riquelme-responds-goat-question-ex-argentina-star-lucky/blt90dd3e12b11acc53" target="_blank">always be the greatest in the eyes of those from Argentina</a>, meaning that Scaloni is happy to laud the achievements of others when it comes to picking out the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-lamine-yamal-ahead-cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-goats-nowhere-near-barcelona-wonderkid-level-17/bltcf1c91113b92f0d5" target="_blank">cream of the crop in 2025</a>.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Scaloni told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9czC3h0MPd4 " target="_blank"><em>Siro Lopez’s YouTube channel</em></a> when making his selection: “I’ll set Messi aside because he’s unique. So I’ll say Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez as well.”</p>

WHAT LIONEL SCALONI SAID

<p>Unsurprisingly, World Cup-winning coach Scaloni has gone Argentina heavy in his choices. He only found room for Messi, though, in his greatest XI of all-time. That side is made up of: Gianluigi Buffon, Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Neybet, Alessandro Nesta, Mauro Silva, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and Ronaldo Nazario.</p>

TELL ME MORE

<p>Scaloni went on to say of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/jose-mourinho-equivalent-floyd-mayweather-pep-guardiola-nuisance-boxing-fight-ex-world-champion-man-city-fan-ricky-hatton-manager-feud/blta7d217cb70ea59ad" target="_blank">holding Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho in the highest regard</a>: “I try to take things from both of them in my style of play; they're both very good in their own ways. Pep played perfect football at Barcelona, <wbr><wbr>and in many instances at Bayern Munich and Manchester City.” He added that “Messi at the 2006 World Cup” is the best player that he ever lined up alongside.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

‘Lionel Messi is unique’ - Argentina boss names world’s best players as Lamine Yamal & Kylian Mbappe get top-three billing | Goal.com

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has left Lionel Messi off his list of the best players in the world as the all-time great is considered to be “unique”.