Overview
- Lionel Messi told ESPN he regards Pep Guardiola as a one-of-a-kind coach with “something different” that sets him above the rest.
- Messi credited Guardiola with accelerating his rise at Barcelona, where the team won three LaLiga titles, two Champions Leagues and 14 trophies overall in four seasons.
- He praised Guardiola’s wider impact on the sport, saying the coach changed how the game is played in Germany with Bayern and in England with Manchester City.
- Since joining Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola has collected 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the 2022–23 Champions League.
- Messi dismissed criticism of Guardiola’s earlier European record, noting City’s eventual Champions League triumph came after multiple attempts and completed a treble.