Overview
- Raul stated in a newly published EDYYN interview, relayed by Mundo Deportivo on January 1, that Lionel Messi is the greatest player he has seen.
- He ranked Messi above Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazario and Luis Figo, saying Messi makes seemingly impossible actions look simple.
- The assessment comes from a Real Madrid icon who scored 323 goals over 16 seasons and faced Messi in eight El Clasicos, including the 2007 hat-trick at Camp Nou.
- In a separate AS interview, Raul praised 18-year-old Lamine Yamal as a major talent while urging that Spain’s veterans shield the youngster from excessive pressure.
- Outlets such as Goal.com and World Soccer Talk reported the remarks as a high-profile opinion grounded in Raul’s credibility and direct experience.