Former Argentina and Manchester City star names the greatest soccer player in history

Pablo Zabaleta, an icon of both Manchester City and the Argentina national team, played a pivotal role in City’s first Premier League title, famously scoring in the dramatic 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers. Representing Argentina from his youth days to his retirement, Zabaleta is regarded as one of the standout right-backs of his generation.

The former defender began his European journey with Espanyol before joining Manchester City, where he spent nine seasons and became a key figure in the club’s transformation into a soccer powerhouse. He concluded his career at West Ham, retiring in October 2020 to focus on coaching.

Zabaleta’s career at the elite level, coupled with his achievements with the Argentina national team, including an Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008, gave him a front-row seat to compete alongside and against the world’s best. Yet, when asked to name the greatest of all time, his answer is unequivocal: Lionel Messi.

Even before Messi secured the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Zabaleta firmly believed the Argentine star had done enough to stand above the rest. “He’s the leader of his generation. The greatest in history. Soccer owes Messi a title with the national team. That would crown him on a personal level, but it doesn’t change that he’s the best,” Zabaleta told Infobae in 2020.

Lionel Messi and Pablo Zabaleta of Argentina look on prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Quarter Final match between Argentina and Belgium. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Not long after, Messi fulfilled that prophecy. He broke Argentina’s trophy drought with the 2021 Copa America, followed it with the Finalissima against Italy in 2022, and finally captured the elusive World Cup title in Qatar. Two years later, Messi added another Copa America trophy to his resume, winning the 2024 tournament held in the United States.

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Zabaleta on playing alongside Messi

Zabaleta had the privilege of sharing the pitch with Messi during their youth team days, witnessing firsthand the emergence of a generational talent. “I started playing with him in the youth teams. We won the South American Championship, the U-20 World Cup (2005), and Olympic gold in China (2008). But we couldn’t win at the senior level,” Zabaleta lamented in the interview with Infobae.

Pablo Zabaleta and Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrate gold during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Soccer in 2008. (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“Our generation gave everything for years. But what defines success is a title. We came so close in three consecutive finals. The penalties, the extra time against Germany—it just wasn’t meant to be,” he said, referring to the heartbreak of the 2014 World Cup and the Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016.

New chapter in coaching

After Messi finally achieved World Cup glory, Zabaleta embarked on his own new chapter in soccer. His former Manchester City teammate Sylvinho invited him to join the Albanian national team’s coaching staff. Zabaleta accepted without hesitation.

Now serving as Albania’s second assistant coach, Zabaleta played a role in their historic qualification for the 2024 European Championship. Looking ahead, he aims to help Albania secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, though they face a tough qualifying group with England, Serbia, Latvia, and Andorra.