Ronald Koeman: Lionel Messi better than Pele, Cruyff and Maradona

Marca reports an interview with Koeman on Cadena Cope in which he discussed a number of topics, from the Argentine to the controversy over comments made by Gerard Pique as Barca celebrated the treble.

The defender joked about the infamous party held by Cristiano Ronaldo on the night Real Madrid lost heavily to Atletico Madrid and the Spanish Press has run amok.

“The Pique thing isn’t a lack of respect. These things happen. You can say that after a treble. It was a joke,” Koeman claimed.

“Messi? He’s the best player of all time. The talk is of Pele, Cruyff, Messi, Maradona…no one has been as decisive. For the goals he’s scored, how he scored them. He’s the greatest player of all time.”

Koeman went on to discuss the situation of two Barca figures, coach Luis Enrique and right-back Dani Alves, with their respective futures in the air.

“Enrique has to stay. He’s done a great job and is responsible for much of the success,” Koeman said of his counterpart.

“Alves is in his best form and it’d be a shame if he didn’t stay. If he doesn’t stay then Barca will have to find a player to live up to the job.

“Winning a treble isn’t easy and to achieve it is something great, but I still think Pep Guardiola’s Barca was better.

“[Rafa] Benitez is a very experienced Coach, but coaching Madrid or Barca is complicated.”

Much of the debate regarding the best ever is centred on talent and quite rightly so. Messi is the most talented player in the world right – he has it all. However, what has been incredibly impressive this season is his renaissance as it speaks of an insatiable desire for self-improvement.

To be the best of a generation and still want to improve shows outrageous mental strength. Messi had a turbulent 2014 but has somehow managed to come back even better. His spell between 2011 to 2013 probably already had him marked down as the greatest ever but this season he has taken it to new heights.

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