“As Kobe Bryant Once Said…”: Lionel Messi’s Childhood Idol Bridged Two Legends From Different Worlds to Perfection Back in 2022

Former Argentine soccer player Pablo Aimar was the childhood idol of Lionel Messi. Last year Aimar, in an interview with La Selecta podcast praised Lionel Messi and drew a comparison with NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

The Argentine played as an attacking midfielder and had successful stints at La Liga giants Valencia and Portuguese giants Benfica. Aimar is the current assistant coach of the Argentina National team that won the FIFA World Cup last year in Qatar. 

Aimar spoke on the legacy the Argentine duo of Messi and Maradona has left and how children idolize and wants to become Messi. It is not possible that everyone can become Messi, but the Argentine wizard motivates the next generation to take soccer as a career option. 

Argentine assistant coach compares Lionel Messi with NBA legend

 While speaking about Messi.Aimar said, “As Kobe Bryant once said – he played the games, especially at the end of his career, thinking that there was someone who was going to see him for the last time. It seems to me that Leo plays thinking about that, that there will be someone who will not see him again,”

That was some comparison by the Argentina assistant coach trying to bridge the two legends. Kobe and Messi are two greats of their sports, and Aimar drafted brilliant words to compare how Kobe played at the end of his career and how Messi is trying to play currently. 

Aimar wasn’t happy with PSG fans booing Messi last year and said the Argentine wizard plays for passion and not for money. The first season for Messi at the Parisians was unforgettable, and he never hit his standards. However, the former Barcelona superstar is making amendments to his rough start at PSG and is in top form this season after winning FIFA World Cup. 

Messi once revealed Aimar was his childhood idol

Modern-day soccer greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are idols to many. But for Messi, there’s an unusual name that comes up as a childhood idol. “Pablo Aimar was, and is, my idol,” Messi once revealed. “I really like to watch him play and I have followed his career since the beginning at River Plate.”

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They labeled Aimar as the next Maradona, but never reached the potential. After the player shone for River Plate, he made a move to Europe with La Liga giants Valencia. Maradona once said he will only pay to watch Aimar in Europe. Aimar had a successful stint at Valencia winning the league twice. He was a vital part of the coaching staff of the Argentina national team that recently won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. 

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Let us know your thoughts on the comments made by Aimar on Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant.