Lionel Messi of Argentina has lavished praise on one of his compatriots after a man-of-the-match display (Image: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Lionel Messi names Tottenham Hotspur man as “best in the world” after masterclass
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner knows an outstanding defender when he sees one and has lavished praise on one international teammate following yet another masterful display.
Lionel Messi has lavished praise on one of his compatriots after a man-of-the-match display
Lionel Messi has claimed Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero is the “best in the world” after being impressed with his performances while away on international duty.
The Argentine superstar is well-placed to spot an outstanding defender, having lined up alongside the likes of Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos in his career. At present, the seven-time Ballon d’Or victor is unequivocal about who he feels is the best in that position on the planet right now.
For the 37-year-old, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Manchester City’s Ruben Dias do not come close to his international teammate Christian Romero. The Spurs star continued to excel for his country since playing a pivotal role as Argentina won the World Cup in 2022.
Now, his country’s captain has lavished praise on the unsung Spurs star, lauding his most recent performance for the nation. After another solid display in the 1-0 victory over Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier, Messi’s admiration for his compatriot was plain to see.
In no uncertain terms, the Inter Miami talisman said: “For me, [Christian Romero] is the best defender in the world right now. Amazing performance tonight, man of the match.”
Likewise, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul was similarly impressed with Romero’s masterful performance, agreeing with Messi’s comments about the defender’s standing in the game. He said: “Today Cuti Romero is up to being the best central defender in the world.
“Having him behind is the best thing that can happen to me because he always forces me to go forward as he always wants to be one on one against the opponent. I got used to going out without looking back and that is a pleasure for a midfielder, because in the end you look at what that you have in front and allows you to get less tired.”
The win meant that the three-time world champions got their qualification campaign off to a positive start as they begin their defence of the trophy. After helping to keep a clean sheet, Argentina were rewarded for their defensive solidity when their captain stepped up to win the game for them.
In typical style, Messi scored a perfectly-weighted free-kick in the 78th minute to ensure they picked up three important points. It seems as though the spirit in the group is high at the moment, with Romero returning the compliment to Messi in his post-match interview.
The 25-year-old colossus said: “Ecuador were strong at the back and tried to exploit any mistakes we made. But then, the greatest player in the world appeared and opened the game up, after that, things got easier.”
Mirror.co.uk
