AC Milan icon Clarence Seedorf reveals his pick for the greatest soccer player of all time

Former AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf, a legend of the game and the only player to win the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs, holds a highly respected voice in the world of soccer. As the Netherlands’ current FIFA ambassador, Seedorf’s opinions carry significant weight.

While the former Real Madrid midfielder’s remarks were made in different years, both unequivocally point to Lionel Messi as the best player in the history of soccer. “Messi is the best, but Cristiano [Ronaldo] is not far behind,” Seedorf told Cope in 2021 during his final seasons as a professional player with AC Milan.

Seedorf’s praise for Messi reached new heights after the Argentine captain led his national team to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defeating Kylian Mbappe’s France in an unforgettable final.

“Messi deserved it, soccer deserved Messi to win it,” Seedorf told ESPN in 2022. “For the people in Argentina, it must be something very special when such a special player brings the trophy home with the teammates he played with. I’m very happy for him—it was well deserved, and finally, a cycle was completed. He left a true legacy… I have to thank him for what he has done on and off the pitch for soccer”.

Clarence Seedorf and Lionel Messi compete for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group H match between AC Milan and FC Barcelona. (Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Seedorf vs. Messi: A brief history

Seedorf faced Messi on four occasions during the 2011-2012 UEFA Champions League season, with the results favoring the Argentine and his Barcelona side. Across those matches, Barcelona claimed two victories, while the other two ended in draws against AC Milan. Messi netted three goals across the encounters, ultimately eliminating Milan in the quarterfinals.

Clarence Seedorf’s legacy in soccer

Seedorf’s illustrious career took him to some of the world’s top clubs, including Ajax, Sampdoria, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Botafogo. Between 1992 and 2013, the Dutch midfielder amassed an incredible 889 official matches, scoring 135 goals.

His trophy cabinet includes 14 domestic titles and eight international honors, highlighted by an unprecedented four UEFA Champions League titles with three different teams.