Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has refused to call Lionel Messi “the best in history”.
Ahead of Real Madrid’s return to action following the conclusion of the World Cup, Ancelotti was quizzed on all things football by reporters. After Messi won the World Cup with Argentina, naturally he was asked if he now considers him the best player in history, to which he gave a rather interesting answer.
Ancelotti explained: “It’s hard to say. He is a great footballer. His career is spectacular, but if he is the best in history, I don’t know because every era has had very important players. Saying that he was the best in history will not come out of my mouth.
The Real coach went further in his analysis of the debate, suggesting that his striker Karim Benzema has a right to be in the debate: “I have enjoyed all the players and now I have a Ballon d’Or (winner) every day here (Benzema). I saw Maradona and Cruyff and I enjoyed them”.
The Frenchman won the 2022 Ballon d’Or after an incredible season in which he helped Real win the La Liga and Champions League double. Interestingly, however, there was no mention of Cristiano Ronaldo, who Ancelotti coached in his first spell at Real.
Ancelotti also gave an update on Benzema’s fitness, with the striker left out of France’s World Cup squad through injury. “We have Benzema back and that is good. He returned on December 10. He started working with the team, played 30 minutes and 45 minutes in the friendlies and is doing well, with great enthusiasm. He knows that his first game of the season was not good and he wants to show things in the second. He will show all his quality in this part of the season”, Ancelott concluded
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