“He's a leader and is offering lessons in beautiful football. He has something different to any other player in the world.”
—Soccer legend Diego Maradona

"I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi.”
—Maradona

“What Leo does is so incredible that I have to be careful not to stand still watching him make his moves.”
—Teammate Thierry Henry

“There's no other like Leo.”
—Teammate Deco

"I hope Maradona can forgive me, but I think Messi's goal is even better.”
—Deco

"Leo simply goes one way with his body and another with the ball. You have to either guess right or foul him.”
—Teammate Gerard Piqué

"You will see him bringing other players into his moves, playing one-two passes to create space and beat players. He is a specialist at that. Messi is difficult to mark, as you have to consider who is also playing around him.”
—Soccer legend Marcel Desailly

“Diego played with pauses and acceleration. Messi's was down to breakneck speed and acceleration.”
—Argentine soccer legend Jorge Valdano

“Messi is brilliant, different, with a strong mentality.”
—Argentine Football Association President Julio Grondona

"In two minutes, I saw his speed, his skill and decided we would sign him.”
—Former Barcelona Sporting Director Carles Rexach

“Leo’s goals are works of art.”
—Coach Frank Rijkaard

“Messi is on another planet.”
—Real Madrid star Arjen Robben

“I think we'll see an awful lot more of him in the World Cup.”
—Chelsea star Damien Duff

“Once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable. He's the only player who can change direction at such a pace.”
—Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger

“Messi is as understated as Maradona is flamboyant.”
—Sportswriter Chad Nielsen

“The difference with Messi is the new Maradona tag came from the old Maradona.”
—Sportswriter Rick Broadbent