Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick names the greatest soccer player of all time

The debate over who holds the title of the greatest soccer player in history remains one of the sport’s most passionate topics. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the conversation in recent years, while legends such as Diego Maradona, Pele, and Johan Cruyff also continue to receive recognition for their legacies. But for Hansi Flick, the answer is clear.

Barcelona head coach has never shied away from stating his opinion on the matter. Despite coaching several world-class players throughout his career, Flick has repeatedly named Messi as the greatest to ever play the game.

The German tactician first made his position clear in August 2020, just days before Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona 8–2 in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

At the time, Messi was in contention for the Ballon d’Or—an award that was ultimately not handed out that year—alongside Flick’s own striker Robert Lewandowski. “Messi has been the best in the world in recent years. He is an exceptional player like we’ve never seen before,” Flick said then.

Lionel Messi is awarded with his seventh Ballon D’Or award during the Ballon D’Or Ceremony. (Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Now leading Barcelona, Flick reiterated his admiration for Messi following praise the Argentine gave the Catalan club. “It’s an honor that the best player in history speaks well of Barca,” he said.

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What did Messi say about Flick’s Barcelona?

In November 2024, while Lionel Messi was on international duty with Argentina during the World Cup qualifiers, the Inter Miami captain spoke with TV3 as part of the documentary “El Nou Clam” about Barcelona’s form at the time—and didn’t hesitate to express his admiration for his former club.

“It is a great pride to see how the first team is represented right now. This Barça is spectacular, and it doesn’t surprise me. It’s nothing new; it’s been happening all my life, since I arrived at Barça at 13 years old,” one of the greatest players of all times started.

“It’s amazing that the young players have had the opportunity in the last two years, and when given confidence, they respond in that way because they know the club better than anyone and have been used to playing this way since they were little. If they are supported, these things happen, just like they did in our time,“ he concluded.