Brazil Is ‘Afraid’ of Lionel Messi, Claims 58YO Legend; Calls Him the Best Player of Last ‘50 Years’

Brazilian soccer legend, Paulo Silas has become one of the newest additions to join in hailing Lionel Messi as the best player. Also, in a surprising confession, he boldly stated that Brazil harbors a certain level of fear towards Messi and his determination to continue playing for Argentina while still not contemplating retirement.

When it comes to soccer rivalries, few are as intense as the one between Brazil and Argentina. Their recent World Cup qualifier match further showcased the intense rivalry as it was marred by police brutality. Despite this heated rivalry the 1989 Copa América winner, has nothing but praise for the Argentine maestro.

Brazilian legend agrees of being afraid of Lionel Messi

Paulo Silas recently sat down in an interview and spoke about the Argentine National Team and Lionel Messi. As per CatamarcActual, the former Brazilian midfielder stated, “Messi, what can we talk about, he is out of class, he is the best player of the last 40 or 50 years.”

Discussing Brazil’s feelings towards the 36-year-old, Silas emphasized that “Lionel is going to play one more (World Cup) and we are afraid here in Brazil, that’s the reality, but they prepared for that, we have to get ready.” This admission speaks volumes about the impact Messi has had on the Brazilian soccer psyche.

It’s not just the retired midfielder who holds the 8x Ballon d’Or winner in high regard. Several other Brazilian soccer icons, such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazario, and Dani Alves, have also lauded the Inter Miami forward as the best player. While Silas holds Lionel Messi in high esteem, he also recognizes that other exceptional players on the Argentina team are equally impressive.

Paulo Silas gushing about the Argentina team and its players

During the same interview, Paulo Silas expressed high praise for the Argentina team, particularly highlighting their abundance of talented young players. Specifically, he mentioned Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister. The 58-year-old referred to them as ‘crack’, and according to him, Argentina’s top position in the World Cup qualifier reflects their talent.

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He even went on to acknowledge that Brazil is currently below Argentina. He further admitted, “We have to imitate, we are suffering in Brazil. I think we are going to suffer for the next 3 World Cups.” It is evident that the impressive performance of Lionel Messi and the entire Argentina squad has deeply impressed Paulo Silas.

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