Lionel Messi breaks silence on who he thinks is the real GOAT

Lionel Messi, currently of Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and still playing for Argentina in the Copa America weighs in on the GOAT debate, but not in football. So, we can all stay calm assuming his idea of the GOAT differs from the popular opinion.

Speaking on the YouTube channel Abitare, Messi revealed his admiration for American basketball legend Michael Jordan, naming him the greatest athlete of all time.

Messi, who has developed a keen interest in American football since moving to the United States, was particularly impressed by Jordan’s career after watching the Netflix series “The Last Dance.”

The series, released in 2020, chronicles the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty and Jordan’s final season in 1997/98, when he secured his sixth NBA Championship and sixth NBA Finals MVP award.

In an interview with Argentine journalist Juan Pablo Varsky, Messi said, “Michael Jordan is the greatest ever. After watching ‘The Last Dance,’ it’s impressive. That brought me much closer to getting to know him. So many people have asked me for photos – why couldn’t I ask him for a photo? It would be really nice.”

Jordan’s illustrious career includes five NBA MVP awards, 14 NBA All-Star Team appearances, and a record of 3,041 points scored in the 1986/87 season. He is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist and briefly came out of retirement to play for the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003.