Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Liverpool star Florian Wirtz names the greatest soccer player of all time

Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champions and are preparing to raise their level even further in the upcoming season. Among the new additions to their roster is Florian Wirtz, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen. Now the attacking midfielder has named his all-time greatest player, showing a clear preference between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wirtz recently sat down for an interview with JD Sports, where he answered several rapid-fire questions about his opinions and experiences related to other soccer stars. When asked to name a player—past or present—he would’ve liked to play with, he didn’t hesitate: “Messi.” And he immediately repeated the Argentine superstar’s name when asked to name the greatest player of all time.

This isn’t the first time Florian has expressed his admiration for Messi. In a previous interview with Sky Sports Germany, he spoke about the players who inspired him growing up. “I actually had a few posters hanging in my room—Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, and Aubameyang, for example. My first jersey, however, was Messi’s Argentina jersey,” said the 22-year-old midfielder.

“When I was little, he was the best player there was at the time in the world. I watched videos of him, was a fan of his—I wanted to be as good as him,” Wirtz added. “Nobody can play like Messi. He has his own way of playing. Sometimes, I watch more specifically how he solves situations.”

Florian Wirtz named Lionel Messi the greatest soccer player of all time.

Wirtz picks his favorite Liverpool player

In the same interview with JD Sports, Wirtz was asked about his new chapter at Liverpool and had to choose the teammate he’s most excited to play with. “Of course the whole team! But maybe Mo Salah,” said Florian. “He was the best player the last season. So, yeah I’m really looking forward to play with him.”

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The German star was also asked to name the toughest opponent he’s ever faced in his professional career, and interestingly, he chose someone who is now his teammate in England. “Maybe (Alexis) Mac Allister in the last game we played against Liverpool in Champions League. Was really tough against him,” said Wirtz.

Last season, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen faced each other at Anfield Road in the opening stage of the UEFA Champions League, where the Reds dominated with a 4–0 win. Both Mac Allister and Wirtz started for their teams in that match, and the German midfielder struggled to stand out under those circumstances.

Wirtz names the best player he’s played with

Finally, during the same interview, Wirtz highlighted the most impressive player he’s shared a team with during his career. “Toni Kroos,” said Florian, referring to the former midfielder he played alongside during Euro 2024 with Germany. “He’s just unbelievable in passing and directing the game. Yeah, an unbelievable player.”