Lionel Messi has won everything at club and international level, yet Carlo Ancelotti is still yet to be convinced the Argentina captain can be called the best footballer of all time

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to label Lionel Messi as the greatest of all time (GOAT).

Many have been adorning the GOAT tag on the Paris Saint-Germain striker after he led Argentina to their third World Cup triumph. Messi scored seven goals and contributed three assists over the course of the competition in Qatar.

However, Ancelotti, who has managed Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and many more, is not one of the many people rushing to put a crown on Messi’s head. And the former Chelsea and AC Milan chief highlighted the talent he has watched, played alongside, and coached, when explaining his refusal to immediately label Messi as the best to ever play the beautiful game.

“It’s hard to say, his career continues, whether he’s got a World Cup or not,” Ancelotti recently said, when asked about Messi. . “Is he the best in history?

“I don’t know, honestly. I’ve lived in an era where there have been very strong players, many of them. You won’t hear from me a ‘Messi is the best in history’.

“I enjoy the best, I’ve seen Maradona, Cruyff, I’m coaching the current Ballon d’Or winner. I don’t know who is the best in history.”

Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory (Image: Getty Images)

Ancelotti enjoyed many battles against Messi when he was still breaking numerous records at Barcelona. He also guided his Real Madrid side past PSG on their way to winning the Champions League last season.

Messi missed a penalty in the first leg of PSG’s Round of 16 clash against Los Blancos, who went on to 3-2 on aggregate. However, Messi, and a resurgent Kylian Mbappe, will be looking to get their revenge by winning PSG’s first ever Champions League title.

The Parisians face Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 with the first leg taking place on February 14.

Source: dailystar.co.uk