Few players in football history have dominated the sport quite like Lionel Messi. Widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever grace the pitch, he remains, without question, the most iconic figure in the history of FC Barcelona.
Though he no longer wears the Blaugrana shirt, his impact at the club continues to resonate across generations.
Even among the new wave of football stars, Messi’s influence remains unmatched. Many of the game’s most promising young talents continue to idolise the Argentine legend, and Liverpool’s blockbuster summer signing Florian Wirtz is no exception.
Wirtz Names Messi as His Footballing Idol
In a recent interview with JD Sports, Wirtz was asked to name the greatest footballer of all time. The 22-year-old German international didn’t hesitate, responding with a smile:
“Messi.”
When asked which player, past or present, he would have liked to play alongside, Wirtz doubled down:
“Messi.”
His admiration did not stop there. In a separate interview with Prodirectsoccer, the former Bayer Leverkusen star shared a personal anecdote from his childhood. Asked about the first name he ever had on the back of a football shirt, Wirtz replied:
“I’m sure it was Messi… I had Argentina and Barcelona, everything.”
The comments reflect just how deeply Messi’s legacy continues to shape the ambitions and inspirations of today’s elite footballers.
A Barcelona Link That Never Materialised
Wirtz has previously been linked with a move to FC Barcelona, and his respect for the Catalan club has long been public. However, a combination of financial constraints and the club’s existing squad profile meant that a transfer was never seriously pursued.
Still, his deep admiration for Messi and, by extension, Barça remains evident. And while the two players may never share the pitch, Wirtz’s words are a testament to Messi’s enduring legacy and influence in world football.
