Ex-Barcelona team-mate Frenkie de Jong explains why Lionel Messi is so much better than 'the rest' - with Inter Miami superstar setting remarkable standards in training

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi forged his reputation at Camp Nou, with a record-breaking spell in Catalonia enjoyed on the back of graduating from the fabled La Masia academy system. Having won just about everything with Barca, the Argentina international left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 after they were unable to renew his contract.

He has since moved on to Inter Miami, with MVP honours earned in MLS during the 2024 campaign. Messi has taken his historic haul of major honours to 46 while in Florida, with a World Cup winners’ medal now figuring prominently on his glittering CV.

Several colleagues in the United States have spoken of how Messi is as competitive in training as he is in games that really matter, with De Jong explaining why the South American is the best player on any pitch that he graces. The Netherlands international has told Voetbal International: "I’ve never seen such a big difference between one player and the rest. Whatever we did in training, Messi was the best, always."

De Jong, who joined Messi at Barcelona in 2019, went on to say of the skill set that allows Messi to rise above just about every other player on the planet and makes him such a threat to opposition players and managers: "He sees solutions on the field that you as a coach cannot think of in advance."

Messi will be hoping to deliver more magical performances in 2025 as he enters the final year of his contract at Inter Miami. He will be gracing the FIFA Club World Cup again, while he is expected to form part of a global title defence with his country in 2026.