‘No way anyone can be better’ - Trent Alexander-Arnold explains why Lionel Messi is the GOAT as England defender also names the best Liverpool player he’s ever worked with

The England international has graced the same field as some of the finest talent to have ever played the game. Champions League outings at club level have seen the buccaneering right-back come up against Argentine superstar Messi – during his days at Barcelona – and the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is considered to be a cut above the rest.

Alexander-Arnold has told The Mirror when delivering his verdict on the greatest player of all-time: “It has to be Messi for me. The best player I’ve played. The best player that’s ever played the game. To imagine anyone better than what I’ve been able to see, my brain doesn’t comprehend it. There’s no way anyone can be better.

“Lionel Messi is the greatest to ever play this game. There's just a different feeling playing against him that I've ever felt with anyone else. You're always on red alert when the ball is near him, I think it's very rare for a player to king of put that feeling into other players so, for that reason I have to say it's him. For me, I think in many, many aspects of the game, he's probably the best at any given moment, he can almost do what he wants on a football pitch so for that reason he's the best.”

Merseyside native Alexander-Arnold has also explained why current Anfield team-mate Mohamed Salah is the best player that he has worked with, saying: “Just his consistency, from the minute he first came in to this very day. The consistency, he’s never dropped, ever. I think it’s remarkable what he goes and does and achieves, and a testament to his hard work and to his dedication to the game and to his craft that I’m able to witness on a daily basis. Just that relentless drive of pushing himself day by day to get better and improve and break every record in sight.”

Salah, who has scored 211 goals for Liverpool through 349 appearances, remains on the Reds’ books for now and will be back for more under Arne Slot in 2024-25 – with supposed transfer interest from the Saudi Pro League being fended off.