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The best of all time or second behind Cristiano Ronaldo? It doesn’t matter. Zlatan Ibrahimović and Thierry Henry are tired of discussing their former FC Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi’s place among the best footballers of all time.
“For me, this has to stop,” Henry said on FOX’s pre-match show ahead of Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria. “We’re going to see Cristiano tomorrow. I think we shouldn’t separate the greats. We should celebrate them.”
Ibrahimović and Henry wouldn’t declare Messi the GOAT, but they haven’t seen or played with anyone like him.
“I don’t believe we will have another Messi, because he is special,” Ibrahimović said. “He’s a natural. It’s like the game was built for him. Everything he touches turns to gold. And he has a team that is willing to die for him. Winning another World Cup won’t change his status as the best. It’s just another trophy in the trophy room.”
Lionel Messi has been participating in the World Cup for 20 years (Getty).
Messi and Argentina enter the 2026 World Cup trying to defend their crown. At the 2022 World Cup, Messi scored seven goals and three assists, while winning the Golden Boot. He scored twice in the final to send Argentina past France. He ranks first in goals and assists for the Argentina national team. There’s not much more he can do to cement his status in the history books. In fact, his presence at the 2026 World Cup is a luxury as many believed he would go out on a high note by achieving victory in 2022.
Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Thierry Henry played for FC Barcelona during the 2009-10 season. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
All the more reason to just sit back and enjoy your talent.
“We appreciate it,” Ibrahimović said. “We played with him. And as long as he plays, we should appreciate him.”
Even though Ibrahimović, Henry and Messi shared the pitch at Barcelona for just one season, the trio certainly share endless respect for each other, especially for the one who still straps his boots on.
