Lionel Messi has revealed that Frank Rijkaard was the most important person in his Barcelona career rating him above Pep Guardiola. The Dutchman handed the player his debut when he was just 17 making him the third youngest debutant in Barcelona’s history.
Rijkaard was in charge of the Catalan club from 2003 to 2008 and was crucial in reviving Barcelona’s status in Spain. He won the UEFA champions League in 2005 and back to back La Liga titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06.
Despite Messi rising to the top of the footballing pyramid under current Bayern Munich head coach Guardiola he rates the Spaniard’s predecessor as the most important man in his Catalonia career. “All the coaches I had at first left me things, but I think the most important thing in my career was Rijkaard.”
The Argentine was a prodigal talent even as a youngster at the La Masia academy but feels he wouldn’t have achieved all that he has without the Dutch coach. “If he had not decided to get me in the first team to train and play perhaps I had never reached the first team”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was grateful to Rijkaard for giving him his opportunity at such a young age when several others might have overlooked promoting him saying, “I always said [Riikaard] was, for me, a very important person because he trusted me. He made me play in the first team.”
Lionel Messi has been one of the best players in world football over that last decade or so and has won everything there is to win in club football. Under Rijkaard, he made his debut at 17 and formed a telepathic partnership with Ronaldinho.
After the Brazilian star left the club the team was built around the Argentine when Guardiola took charge and the club enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history. The only thing Messi has not won in his career is the FIFA World Cup.
Don’t compare me with Ronaldo: Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated individual honours in world football over the last eight years and people suggest that the reason for that is how the two players push each other through their competitiveness to be the best in the world.
But the Barcelona forward does not want to be compared to his Real Madrid counterpart saying, “I don't compare myself to Cristiano nor to anyone. I only try to think of me, of my team-mates and win games.”
