Xavi has praised Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time, calling him incomparable and almost inhuman after the Argentina captain scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 World Cup win over Algeria.
Xavi, who played alongside Messi for 11 years at Barcelona, said the forward’s performance showed he remains at the top of his game at age 39. He wrote in The Athletic that Messi’s competitive drive sets him apart and compared him to Michael Jordan for transforming his sport.
Messi shrugged off pre-tournament injury concerns to lead the defending champions to victory in their opening match of the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Xavi noted that Messi’s ability was clear from his first training session with the Barcelona first team at age 16.
Argentina are scheduled to face Austria in Dallas this afternoon, with Messi expected to captain the side once again. Xavi added that he does not believe another footballer like Messi will be seen again.
