Pep Guardiola settles GOAT debate by calling Lionel Messi 'the best football player ever' - but admits he might be disrespecting Pele & Diego Maradona

Guardiola found himself in the fortunate position of inheriting a star-studded Barca squad when taking the managerial reins at Camp Nou in 2008. Messi would earn superstar status under the demanding Catalan coach, becoming one of the most fearsome attackers that the world has ever seen.

Messi’s output increased every year under Guardiola, across four seasons, with his final campaign working with the now Manchester City boss delivering 73 goals in all competitions. The Argentine superstar also won four successive Ballons d’Or between 2009 and 2012.

He now has eight Golden Balls to his name, a record-breaking haul of major honours and countless entries in the history books. With that in mind, Guardiola has told Italian TV show Che Tempo, Che Fa when asked to offer his take on Messi: “For me it’s easy to say he’s the best of all time, but the stars came together at the right moment. The GOAT? Maybe that’s a lack of respect to Pele and [Diego] Maradona, but for me, he is. I’ve never seen someone like him as a coach, you can’t imagine him maintaining this continuity for 15-20 years. When you see him up close, you think of Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, we were lucky to work with him.”

Messi is still going strong at 37 years of age, with more trophies being collected at MLS side Inter Miami. His eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo is also playing at 39 with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, while Guardiola is into the final year of his contract at reigning Premier League champions City.