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Lionel Messi compares Argentina squad to ‘best team in history’ Barcelona.
According to Lionel Messi, the current Argentina squad is comparable to the Barcelona squads that dominated European football earlier in his career.
The 36-year-old, who has been dubbed the greatest player in football history, guided Argentina to a World Cup victory in 2022 and has carried his scoring prowess into their 2026 qualification campaign.
Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over Peru, thanks to a match-winning brace from Messi, let Argentina keep their perfect 2023 record intact and win all eight of their games so far.
Messi said in a post-game interview that although some of the Barcelona teams he played on were somewhat superior, this incarnation of Argentina might compete with them as “the best in history.”
Speaking to TyC Sports, Messi declared: “Comparing [this Argentina team] with Barcelona, which was the best in history, is a lot. But I think this team is very close.
“This team is incredible, every time they play they are very close to being the best in history. On a game level I think we have grown. After winning the World Cup we are confident, very loose, more united and firm. Hopefully we can continue to grow.”
Messi played with Barcelona for the majority of his career, but he is probably talking about the Pep Guardiola-led squads he was a part of.
Three La Liga championships and two Champions Leagues were among the 14 major awards Barcelona won during Guardiola’s four years in charge.
At Wembley Stadium, the second of two European Cups was won in 2011, defeating Manchester United 3-1. Sir Alex Ferguson praised the Barcelona club as the best team he faced as a manager after winning the league.
“They’re the best in Europe, no question about that. In my time as a manager, I would say they’re the best team we’ve faced. Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that. It’s not easy when you’ve been well beaten like that to think another way,” he said.
“No one has given us a hiding like that. It’s a great moment for them. They deserve it because they play the right way and enjoy their football.”