A few months ago Leo Messi clocked 31 years which only means we only have a few more years of watching one the greatest if not the greatest footballer of all the time before he retires.
Hopefully he'll never lose his love for the game and will continue playing into his 40s because the thought of Messi retiring from football in his early-to-mid 30s should fill every lover of the beautiful game with dread and sadness.
Greats of the beautiful game along with other accomplished selfs from all walks of life have all witnessed his greatness and have acknowledged it. So without further ado, here are the best quotes from legends on the little genius that is Messi.
1. JOHAN CRUYFF
'For the world of football, Messi is a treasure because he is a role model for children around the world… Messi will be the player to win the most Ballons d'Or in history. He will win five, six, seven. He is incomparable. He's in a different league." - Johan Cruyff
2. ROMARIO
"Newton and Einstein had a certain level of autism - I hope that, like them, Messi surpasses himself every day and continues to give us his beautiful brand of football."
3. HRISTO STOICHKOV
"Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol. Today you need a machine gun to stop Messi."
4. SAMUEL ETO'O
"Messi is God, as a person and even more as a player. I knew him when he was a boy and I've watched him grow. He deserves it all."
"He is always going forwards. He never passes the ball backwards or sideways. He has only one idea, to run towards the goal. So as a football fan, just enjoy the show."
"Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi."
7. DIEGO MARADONA
"I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius."
8. FRANK RIBERY
"Messi is class. There is him, and then there is the rest. What he does is extraordinary."
9. GARY LINEKER
"Fella's a genius. Best ever by a distance in my life time. Never really saw Pele… Souness, Gullit, Venables and now Rooney agree Messi is the best they have seen. He plays a game with which we are not familiar."
10. ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
"Messi does not need his right foot. He only uses the left and he's still the best in the world. Imagine if he also used his right foot, Then we would have serious problems."
11. JOHN TERRY
"Lionel Messi is quite clearly the best player ever. It's a pleasure to pit myself against him and when I finish my career it's something I can look back on and know I've tested myself against the very best."
12. FRANZ BECKENBAUER
"Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona's."
13. PEP GUARDIOLA
"Don't write about him, don't try to describe him. Just watch him."
14. PELE
"I like Messi a lot, he's a great player. Technically, we're practically at the same level."
15. KOBE BRYANT
"I wear the number 10 Jersey for the US National Team in honour of the Greatest athlete I have ever seen: Messi."
16. GERARD PIQUE
"It feels good to be in the same generation as him. I believe he's the best player in the history of the sport."