Earned Billions in Salary, ‘Leader’ Lionel Messi Likened to Billionaire NBA Legend Michael Jordan by Ex-Barcelona Boss Ernesto Valverde

It’s nothing new for Lionel Messi to hear someone praise him for his greatness. However, it can indeed be special if someone who played the role of a coach in his life praises him for his extraordinary skills. Recently, the Argentine superstar was lauded by his former coach, Ernesto Valverde, for giving him everything that a coach expects from a player. Interestingly, he even went on to compare La Pulga with NBA legend Michael Jordan.

 Messi has millions of fans all around the world who never get tired of listening to his greatness. To their surprise, Valverde had some interesting takes on the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. Moreover, the former Barcelona boss also answered whether it was a challenging task to manage a legendary player like Messi.

Lionel Messi compared to NBA legend Michael Jordan

Ernesto Valverde was recently asked about his experience working with Messi, who is often considered the greatest footballer of all time. Valverde made it clear that it was not at all complicated to work with the Argentine star. When asked about training Messi, the former Barca boss said to Relevo, “Well, great. Messi? I don’t know. You’ve seen him play, right? Well, what am I going to tell you that you don’t know!”

Further, the current Athletic Club coach said that it’s always best to have a piece of prior knowledge about who you are working with while joining a new club, he added, “It’s true that you have to take into account who is who. Messi is a player that you know is going to give you everything.“

Later Valverde went on to compare Messi with NBA legend Michael Jordan. He added, “Michael Jordan, for example. In the end, they are players who are capable of assuming that leadership, they are different.“The 59-year-old said that ‘La Pulga’ was a crucial member of the team and that he was self-motivated, just like Jordan was at the Chicago Bulls. He strongly believes that Messi is a legendary player with all the qualities of a leader. Both Jordan and Messi are exceptional athletes who have achieved enormous heights.

The two most successful athletes of all time

Lionel Messi and Michael Jordan are undoubtedly two of the most successful athletes to ever live. When it comes to Messi, his exceptional skills have helped him earn billions in salary. When the 36-year-old joined Inter-Miami, he signed America’s richest deal, which would help him earn a whopping $54 million each season.

READ MORE: Despite $54,000,000 USA Richest Deal, ‘Shy and Quiet’ Lionel Messi Is Trying to Adapt at Inter Miami, Says Teammate Drake Callender

On the other hand, Michael Jordan, the NBA legend, retired from the sport at the age of forty. He could make a fortune as a basketball player, and currently, he boasts a net worth of $3.5 billion. Even though he retired from the sport twenty years ago, fans still remember him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Interestingly, Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min also took the names of Lionel Messi and Jordan when asked about the greatest athlete of all time. Undoubtedly, both Messi and Jordan are elite athletes who have already proven that they are the absolute best in their respective sports.

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