Argentina and Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has often earned plaudits for his unmatched dribbling ability from fans and pundits alike in the last two decades. And, ex-Germany man İlkay Gündoğan has joined the list of the left-footed attacker’s admirers.
Lionel Messi Receives Big Praise From Former Barcelona Midfielder
During a recent interview with Turkish media, Galatasaray midfielder Gündoğan heaped big praise on Messi for the latter’s understanding of the sport. The ex-Manchester City ace also said that the Argentine will not be eclipsed by any other player in the future.
“A good player is recognized by his first touch and his spatial awareness… (how he reacts) even before the ball reaches him. A good player doesn’t just play the ball (and Messi) plays with time and space. He defies all tactical logic. You can control him for 80 minutes, and in the remaining 10, he (will) destroy the entire tactical structure. (There will) not be another player like Messi for decades to come,” the 35-year-old commented.
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Messi, who has faced Gündoğan four times so far in his professional career, made his name during his illustrious Barcelona stint. He scored a club record 672 goals and registered 303 assists in 778 appearances across all competitions for the La Liga outfit. He also helped the Catalans notch 35 silverwares, including 10 La Liga titles, before leaving in 2021.
After becoming a free agent, he secured a switch to Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and continued his European spell until 2023. He joined Inter Miami in July 2023 after lifting two Ligue 1 titles and has since helped in transforming the Major League Soccer (MLS).
So far, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has guided Inter Miami to three trophies, including the club’s maiden MLS Cup. He has also found the back of the net 79 times and laid out 44 assists in just 90 matches in all competitions for the Javier Mascherano-coached club.
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On the other hand, Inter Miami forward Tadeo Allende has claimed that his club captain has an inspiring personality, revealing the veteran helped the side multiple times in 2025.
“He has a very strong personality… it shows on the field. His leadership pushes you forward all the time. And in chaotic moments, he delivered calm messages… and they carry weight because of who they come from. That helped us stay composed,” he told GOAL.
Both Messi and Allende are next likely to be in action in Inter Miami’s league match against D.C. United at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore this Saturday, Mar. 7.
