MX23RW : Saturday, January 4 09:46:15| >> :120:59112:59112:

Jamie Carragher: 'Lionel Messi is the best player of all time'

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher hails Barcelona star Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has declared Barcelona star Lionel Messi to be the greatest player of all time.

The Argentina international became the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history with two goals for Barca as they beat Bayern Munich 3-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

Messi's tally now stands at 77 in Europe's elite competition, and former Liverpool defender Carragher believes that the South America is the best ever.

He told the Daily Mail: "It was a privilege to be in the Nou Camp on Wednesday and when Messi scored that magical second goal to flatten Bayern Munich, the reaction in the Sky studio was as frenzied as the Catalans who surrounded us; we were all out of our seats, shouting, screaming and acclaiming his genius.

"The job of facing the 27-year-old, who is now scoring 50 or 60 goals a season from his free role, however, is now the most difficult in football, as the unfortunate Jerome Boateng found out to his cost on Wednesday.

"Quite simply, Messi has been the greatest player in the best club team we have ever seen. How many years will we have to wait to see another like him?"

Messi has scored 53 goals this season.

ID:221784: cacheID:221784:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2388:
Written by
Paul Gorst
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) scores a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match FC Barcelona vs FC Bayern Muenchen at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on May 6, 2015
Read Next:
Boateng mocked on Wikipedia page
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid19134243192443
2Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia1826101728-1112
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!