Lionel Messi’s fanbase is truly formidable, and now the former Barcelona manager declared him as the best of all. He acknowledged Messi as the "greatest of all time" and also expressed that he does not wish to face Barcelona as an opponent.

In a recent interview on “Che Tempo Che Fa,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola disclosed his admiration for Lionel Messi, declaring him the best player in the world. The manager, currently enjoying a break in Italy during the international hiatus, took the opportunity to appear on the weekly TV show. 

During the interview, Guardiola with confidence declared that Messi to be superior to legends such as the late Pelé and Diego Maradona. He discussed various topics, including his career, his deep-rooted relationship with Barcelona, and, most notably, his respect for Messi.

Messi and his duo achieved great success, winning three La Liga titles and their first continental championship with Barcelona. Over a decade after their partnership ended in 2012, Messi continues to excel at Inter Miami, approaching 850 career goals for club and country, currently at 843.

Guardiola’s comments on Messi always come up in discussions. In a conversation with an Italian TV channel, he stated, "It's easy to say he's the greatest footballer of all time. It may seem like I'm disrespecting Pelé and Diego Maradona, but I can't imagine anyone as consistently great as Messi. I've seen him train daily and play every match. When you see him up close, you think of Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan.”

Johan Cruyff has a significant influence on the manager. During the show, Guardiola shared heartfelt insights in tribute to his mentor, emphasizing how Cruyff not only shaped his tactical approach but also his overall philosophy of the game. 

Further highlighting his impact he stated - "I can’t imagine what my career would be like without Cruyff. He taught me so much strategically, but as a person, he truly shaped me.”

“He was extraordinary and unique, he taught me to fall in love with football.” - Guardiola continued. 

He shed lights on various aspects of this career. When asked how he enjoys football these days, Guardiola stated - "I’m doing well, although I sometimes feel a bit tired, which is common in our line of work. Still, I love football very much." 

He has managed three teams: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City. Regarding these clubs, Guardiola remarked, "I was fortunate at Barcelona; it's a team close to my heart. However, in my career, I've had the opportunity to coach three fantastic clubs”.