Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, popularly known as Ronaldinho has said his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world despite never winning a major international trophy for Argentina.The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner made the statement on Sunday.
“For me, Messi leaving international football does not change anything,” Ronaldinho told Hindustani times.
“He is still the best football player in the world. The respect I have for him doesn’t change at all. And if he really has decided to leave international football then the sport will miss his presence, and so will the fans.”
Ronaldinho, who played at Barcelona for five years from 2003, said he had nurtured Messi when the pair played together at the Nou Camp.
He said the 29-year-old Argentine had followed in his footsteps by helping to guide Brazil forward Neymar at the Spanish champions.
“I am not there to see. But I believe the attention and dedication I had for Messi, is the same thing Messi is doing for Neymar because it’s very important for a more experienced player to share things with younger players,” the 36-year-old Brazilian said.
“And that I believe is one of the reasons that Neymar has adapted to the club and their style of play.”
Messi announced his retirement from internationals football in June after Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final.
The five-time World Player of the Year has played in three Copa America finals and the 2014 World Cup final, but lost them all. He is his country’s top scorer with 55 goals.
