Jamie Carragher, the Liverpool legend, has weighed into the debate about who the greatest footballer is.
He named Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi as the greatest player ever of all time.
Carragher said this as Messi scored a goal in PSG’s Champions League 1-1 draw against Benfica on Wednesday.
The former England defender believes Messi is ahead of the likes of Pele, Johan Cruyff, and the late Diego Maradona.
Messi has had a spectacular start to the season with PSG, netting eight goals and contributing as many assists in 13 appearances.
It is a typical performance from the Argentine captain, who will lead his country into the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November.
“He is the best player (we have) ever seen. You have got greats that come before. Obviously Pele, Johan Cruyff, we saw Maradona,” Carragher said (via CBS Sports Golazo).
“But I would say Lionel Messi is the greatest player to ever play football.”
He added, “That may not be universal in everybody’s eyes because almost everybody associates that you have to win a World Cup. I would love nothing more for Argentina and Lionel Messi to win the World Cup. Just to cement him where I see him but in everybody’s eyes as the greatest player to ever play the game.”