It’s no secret that Pep Guardiola regards Lionel Messi as the best participant of all time, however he additionally named 5 different gamers among the many ‘everlasting’ greats throughout an interview in 2023.
“Everybody has an opinion however no one can doubt that he [Lionel Messi] is there, with the best of all time,” Guardiola mentioned after Messi received the World Cup.
“For me, I mentioned many occasions, he’s the perfect.”
Throughout a press convention in 2023, these have been the opposite 5 gamers that Guardiola named as the perfect of all time, alongside Messi.
Pele
Whereas Guardiola by no means obtained the possibility to look at Pele within the flesh, he was fast to recognise the legendary Brazilian for his impression on soccer.
“I by no means fake to be Pele, truthfully,” Guardiola mentioned. “I by no means noticed him play, I spoke with individuals who mentioned he was the best for them.
“What he has carried out, not simply successful three World Cups, the objectives and he was a brand new factor when he got here up.
“I used to be not born when he was enjoying. It’s like a superb film, the legacy that we’re nonetheless speaking about him, a couple of good film, a superb e book, as a result of he was so good.”
Diego Maradona
For many individuals who have been born within the sixties or seventies, Maradona was their GOAT and for good purpose.
Guardiola would’ve been within the Barcelona academy when the legendary Argentinian was enjoying for the first-team and he’s been fast to recognise Maradona’s legacy.
“He gave loads of pleasure and he made soccer higher. What he did for Napoli and for Argentina in 1986 was one thing unbelievable,” Guardiola mentioned again in 2020.
“His impression in world soccer, the love and the enjoyment, I used to be not with him within the dressing room, however all of the individuals who have been expressing his generosity and the way he considered them to make soccer higher.
“On the pitch he was distinctive. A as soon as in a technology.”
Johan Cruyff
Had it not been for the teachings of Cruyff, we in all probability wouldn’t have the identical model of Guardiola at the moment.
“He helped me to like this sport, to like soccer,” Guardiola instructed BBC Sport final yr.
“To adore it, you must perceive it. To like one thing, you must perceive what you’re keen on.
“There have been secrets and techniques, however the best way he sees soccer is totally totally different to others. The best way he sees, he was so engaging.”
Guardiola would’ve been round 13 when Cruyff retired and his impression on world soccer remains to be being felt at the moment.
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Cristiano Ronaldo
Whereas Guardiola absolutely sides with Messi in the case of the trendy GOAT debate, he has typically praised CR7 prior to now.
“He’ll rating objectives all his life,” Guardiola instructed Sky Sports activities in 2021.
“He shall be 75 years outdated, perhaps retired, however he can be at his personal barbecue enjoying a sport and he’ll rating objectives.
“These kinds of guys, like Messi, like him, what they’ve carried out within the final decade in world soccer scoring objectives and objectives and objectives and serving to their staff win, it speaks for itself.”
Guardiola supposedly got here pretty near managing Ronaldo at one stage, though following his hyperlinks to Manchester Metropolis in 2021, he as an alternative re-joined Manchester United.
We dread to suppose simply what number of objectives a primary CR7 would’ve scored underneath Guardiola.
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Franz Beckenbauer
Among the many ‘everlasting’ greats that Guardiola named, Beckenbauer was the one defensive participant which is a testomony to his legacy.
The legendary German star is the one defender to have received the Ballon d’Or twice, having collected the award in 1972 and 1976.
Guardiola would’ve additionally crossed paths with Beckenbauer throughout his time managing Bayern Munich as the previous Germany worldwide was the membership’s honorary president on the time.