Despite never winning an NBA championship, Steve Nash left an indelible mark on basketball in the 2000s. The two-time MVP, eight-time All-Star, and three-time All-NBA First Team selection was one of the most influential players of his era. Off the court, Nash’s passion for soccer has always been evident, and he recently weighed in on why Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time.
Born in South Africa and raised in Canada, Nash built an 18-season NBA career with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers before retiring in 2015 due to lingering back issues. In 2018, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. After a three-year stint coaching the Brooklyn Nets, Nash expanded his interests into other sports, including soccer, as both a fan and an investor.
Nash, a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter, purchased shares in Spanish soccer club Real Mallorca, influenced by the ownership group of the Phoenix Suns. In an interview with Flashscore, Nash revealed that his decision stemmed from the relatively high cost of Premier League clubs compared to other European teams.
His love for soccer extends to Major League Soccer (MLS), where he is a part-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Nash is an avid supporter of MLS’s growth and sees Lionel Messi’s arrival as a transformative moment for the league.
Steve Nash stands on the sideline before the Tottenham Hotspur play Liverpool during a pre-season tour friendly match at M&T Bank Stadium. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“Messi is incredible,” Nash told Flashscore. “For me, he’s the best player in history. He continues scoring a million goals and delivering highlight moments, and he’s brought unbelievable attention to MLS. It’s a privilege for the league to have the greatest player of all time playing here and still scoring goals, especially right after winning a World Cup”.
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The Messi vs. Maradona debate
While acknowledging Diego Maradona’s legendary status, Nash believes Messi stands alone as the greatest soccer player of all time. Speaking to Bleacher Report, Nash explained his reasoning.
“I know for many, Maradona is the greatest, and I can’t argue with that,” Nash admitted. “But for me, the players Messi faces are vastly different from those of 30 years ago“.
“What Messi does, and the consistency with which he does it, is impossible,” Nash added. “He’s the only one who can take the ball from his own penalty area and score on the other end. In today’s game, players don’t smoke or drink like they used to. The defenders marking him are machines, and yet he still does whatever he wants, whenever he wants“.
