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Former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Hugo Orlando Gatti, famously often called ‘El Loco,’ has shared his opinions on Lionel Messi, sparking debate amongst soccer followers.
Gatti, who represented Argentina within the 1966 FIFA World Cup, expressed some vital views in regards to the Barcelona legend’s profession, notably compared to different soccer greats.
Criticism of Messi
In accordance with Gatti, Messi’s time at Barcelona was made simpler by the beneficial circumstances by which he performed. The previous goalkeeper highlighted that Messi was a part of a extremely expert staff the place every little thing revolved round him.
He identified that Messi not often confronted bodily challenges or adversity on the pitch throughout his time with the Catalan giants, which allowed him to excel in a comparatively comfy surroundings.
“I don’t dislike Messi, however he performed a simple sport. I noticed him in a Barcelona the place they whistled for every little thing, the place no one kicked him, the place they’d a fantastic staff that performed for him,” he mentioned as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
When discussing Messi’s prospects for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Gatti forged doubt on the participant’s influence at that stage of his profession.
He remarked that Messi’s present stint in america, enjoying in a much less demanding league, displays a decline in his competitiveness.
“He could make it, however he might be one much less. In the present day he’s already one much less. He’s enjoying nation soccer in america .”
Comparability with Ronaldo
Hugo Orlando Gatti says Ronaldo is best than Messi. (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)
Gatti went on to make a daring comparability between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He described Ronaldo as a phenomenon who succeeded in tougher circumstances.
“Cristiano is a phenomenon and he’s higher than Messi. He’s higher as a result of he doesn’t have the circumstances of Messi, however he performed in one of the best groups on this planet.”
Whereas he acknowledged that Ronaldo might not possess the identical pure skills as Messi, he emphasised that Ronaldo’s profession noticed him thrive in a number of top-tier groups throughout completely different leagues.
“It’s braver to play there. Everybody performs there. They run at you, they kill you. The place did Messi play?”
Gatti argued that enjoying in such environments, the place gamers are continually underneath strain and face harder competitors is a real check of greatness—one which Messi prevented by remaining at Barcelona for many of his profession.
“At Barça and within the Argentine nationwide staff. Messi didn’t ask himself to play in different groups, or in different international locations. And he had alternatives, didn’t he?” he added.
Downplaying Messi’s achievements
The previous goalkeeper additionally downplayed Messi’s achievements in successful the 2022 FIFA World Cup. “They didn’t kick him even as soon as.”
He claimed that Messi was not subjected to the identical bodily remedy on the pitch as gamers like Diego Maradona, who endured fixed fouls however nonetheless managed to carry out on the highest stage.
“Maradona was kicked to demise. Messi wasn’t hit. And Diego was hit, he fell down and received up once more. When you contact Messi, he stays there,” he added.
