World Cup champion Lilian Thuram reveals his pick for the greatest soccer player of all time

Lilian Thuram is a name synonymous with strength, success, and a trophy-filled career for one of France’s most iconic national teams. The former defender, who once starred for clubs like Barcelona and Juventus, now enjoys a quieter life, focused on watching his sons thrive at top-tier teams such as Juventus and Inter Milan.

In 2017, ahead of a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matchup between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Thuram singled out Lionel Messi as the best to ever play the game.

Thuram and Messi shared the locker room at Barcelona during the early days of the Argentine’s career. The 1998 World Cup winner vividly remembers recognizing Messi’s potential almost instantly.

“I think he was only 17 years old when we shared the dressing room at Barça. But I knew he was going to be the number one in the world,” Thuram told AS in 2017. “People don’t know this, but Messi has a very strong personality. Within 10 minutes, I knew he would become the Messi we know today”.

Lionel Messi gestures during the UEFA Champions League group C match between FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos at the Camp Nou stadium on 2005. (Luis Bagu/Getty Images)

Thuram joined Barcelona during the twilight of his career, following a golden stint with Juventus. The Calciopoli scandal led to his departure from the Italian giants, paving the way for his move to Spain in the summer of 2006. Over the course of two seasons, Thuram and Messi shared the pitch in 58 matches.

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During their time together, Barcelona won the 2006 Spanish Super Cup, clinching the title with a 4-0 aggregate victory over city rivals Espanyol. It was a celebratory moment that Thuram and Messi experienced side by side.

Thuram defended Messi amid criticism of his stint at PSG

Thuram has consistently been one of Messi’s most vocal supporters, even during turbulent times at Paris Saint–Germain. Following Messi’s return from the 2022 World Cup, the Argentine faced jeers from PSG fans after the team’s Champions League Round of 16 exit at the hands of Real Madrid. Thuram didn’t hold back in his defense.

“You see them lose at the Bernabéu, and then people go on to boo Messi at the Parc des Princes—honestly, it’s incredible,” Thuram said. “I think it’s something that should never happen. People should respect a player like Messi. It’s simple—anyone who loves soccer cannot tolerate Messi being booed”.

Thuram’s impressive career in numbers

Thuram’s illustrious career began at AS Monaco in 1990, with stops at Parma, Juventus, and Barcelona along the way. Across 683 club appearances, the Frenchman scored 13 goals, including two unforgettable strikes in the 1998 World Cup semifinal against Croatia. Those goals propelled France to the final, where they would defeat Brazil to claim their first-ever World Cup.