‘He’s not the best’: Ex-India coach makes bold Lionel Messi claim ahead of Argentina vs Spain World Cup final | Football News
as Lionel Messi preparing to lead Argentina to another FIFA World Cup final, former India coach and current Rwanda national team manager Stephen Constantine made a bold assessment of the Argentine superstar, insisting that while Messi is one of football’s greatest, he is “not the best” in history.Speaking to PTI from Rwanda ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster final against Spain, the Englishman ranked Pelé, Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho over the 39-year-old, arguing that Argentina’s tactical setup allows Messi to conserve energy and maximize his influence in attack.Messi enjoyed a remarkable tournament, scoring eight goals and providing four assists as defending champions Argentina reached their second straight World Cup final, including a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semifinals.
‘Messi is unstoppable on the ball’
Constantine praised Messi’s agility in possession but said Argentina’s collective work allowed the captain to shine.“Messi is a great player, one of the greatest, but the difference is that Argentina had six or seven players running for him and he got the ball,” Constantine said.“When he has the ball, he is almost unstoppable. But without it, you effectively play with 10 men because others have to cover his work. Argentina does that well. So, yes, no, no, for me, he is not the best. He is one of the best, but he is not. I will not say that he is the best,” he added.The comments come ahead of what is expected to be Messi’s final appearance at the World Cup, with the Argentine icon chasing a fourth world title for his country.
Constantine backed Spain to lift the trophy
Despite acknowledging Argentina’s experience and Messi’s ability to decide games on his own, Constantine believes Spain’s collective style gives them a slight advantage in the title race.“Well, I think it’s close. If I were a betting man, which I’m not, but if I were, I think I’d put my money on Spain to beat Argentina,” he said. “But again, I think England can get past Argentina. So we’ll see. It’s going to be a good final. These games, I think, are unpredictable.”He highlighted Spain’s work ethic across the pitch as the biggest difference between the finalists.“Rodri is a top player. And the difference in the Spanish side is that they all run. They all do the job. In Argentina, Messi doesn’t track back to mark players. He doesn’t win any headers. When you get the ball, he’s amazing, maybe unbeatable. I think Spain, they will win it,” he explained.
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