Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers to have played the game. He led his team to win the World Cup and has also been named in TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2023. To give tribute to Messi, tennis legend Roger Federer came up with a written note.
“Lionel Messi’s goal-scoring records and championship wins need no recounting here. What stands out to me about Messi, 35, is his consistent greatness over so many years. This is so difficult to achieve, and then maintain. He dribbles like a magician, and his angular passes are works of art. His awareness and anticipation are almost beyond comprehension,” Federer wrote.
“My career has just come to an end. I now realize how much weight we athletes carry. But in our daily lives, we don’t even realize it. For a football player like Messi, that weight likely feels more massive, as he represents both a world-renowned club and a very passionate country,” he added.
“Argentina’s World Cup victory was magnificent. Millions of fans’ taking to the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate was an amazing moment in sports, witnessed around the world. Even those who don’t follow football must have realized the true impact of the world’s most popular game.”
Federer, who is a 20-time Grand Slam winner also disclosed that he was a huge admirer of Diego Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta.
“Growing up, Diego Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta were my favorite Argentine players. I was lucky enough to meet both of them. They inspired me. Now Messi can inspire future generations,” he added.
“I can only hope we get to see his unique creativity and artistry for a little bit longer. Don’t blink too often as Messi performs on the pitch. You may miss something incredible from the man of the moment.”
Federer bid adieu to tennis back in September 2022 after winning eight Wimbledon titles. Along with Wimbledon, he won five US Open championships, one French Open title, and six Australian Open titles.