VIDEO: USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino calls Lionel Messi a 'genius' but names Marco Verratti the 'greatest player that I saw in my life'

Argentine tactician Pochettino spent one season working with fellow countryman Messi at Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain in 2021-22. He was the man in charge at Parc des Princes when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner completed a shock switch from Barcelona as a free agent.

That stint also gave Pochettino the chance to coach the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Spells in charge of Tottenham and Chelsea saw him manage a number of other superstar performers – including Spurs and England’s all-time leading goalscorer, Harry Kane.

It is, however, another talented former PSG star that Pochettino has billed as “the greatest”. The man guiding the United States towards a home World Cup in 2026 made that admission when speaking to GOAL in a quickfire quiz.

Asked to describe some of those that he has coached, Pochettino called Thiago Silva a “leader”, Kane “top scorer”, Neymar a “magician”, Mbappe a “killer” and Messi a “genius”. It was, however, Italian midfielder Marco Verratti that earned his “greatest player” billing.

Euro 2020 winner Verratti made over 400 appearances for PSG between 2012 and 2023. He won two titles alongside all-time great Messi, but is now plying his trade in Qatar for Al-Arabi at 32 years of age – with there still a little under 18 months left to run on his contract there.