Former Barcelona superstar Romario has claimed he was better than Lionel Messi.
Messi’s status as Barcelona’s greatest ever player looks to be unquestioned by fans despite boasting some iconic players over the years.
From Johan Cruyff, through Brazilian trio Romario, Ronaldo Nazario and Ronaldinho, and their La Masia star graduates, Messi’s place remains unchallenged.
However, Romario is not convinced by Messi’s outright place as Barcelona’s No.1, with the 57-year-old claiming his own career is underestimated.
“We played in different positions. In his position, Messi is the best. In my position, I’m the best,” as per an interview with ESPN, via Mundo Deportivo.
Romario enjoyed an incredible 18 months leading Barcelona’s attack, from 1993 to 1995, before returning to Flamengo after a rift opened up between himself and head coach Cruyff.
As part of the team which won the 1994 La Liga title, Romario was also voted as FIFA’s World Player of the Year, on the back of netting 30 league goals in 33 games.
He also claimed only three of Pep Guardiola’s all conquering Barcelona team would have found a place in Cruyff’s 1994 XI.
Former Player Notes Improved Chemistry Between Achraf Hakimi, Lionel Messi
The two marquee players in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 win over Toulouse FC on Saturday at the Parc des Princes were Achraf Hakimi and Lionel Messi.
Hakimi scored the game-tying goal after the capital club fell 1-0 to Toulouse. Then, Messi would record the eventual game-winning strike from outside the box.
Aside from the goals, former PSG player and current French football pundit Eric Rabesandratana noted the improved chemistry on the pitch between Hakimi and Messi. Additionally, Rabesandratana explained the difference one year makes for these improvements to have occurred.
“Their relationship was not as blatant as that,” Rabesandratana told Le Parisien. “They spent a year together and Messi tended not to play with him too much. There, without Mbappé and Neymar, we have seen the importance of using the sides.”
Hakimi and Messi will be leaned upon heavily if Neymar doesn’t return this week, as PSG has a Coupe de France Round of 16 clash against Olympique de Marseille and hope to advance to the quarterfinals.
Furthermore, the two players will be relied on when the Ligue 1 side faces FC Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, as they’ll be without Mbappe.
SOURCE: football-espana.net, psgtalk.com
