Pep Guardiola reacts to Lionel Messi and Argentina World Cup win ahead of Man City v Liverpool – ‘He is the best’

Messi ticked off the last major trophy he hadn’t won in his glittering career by winning the World Cup in Qatar after a thrilling match that was decided on penalties against France.

Guardiola managed Messi for four years at Barcelona when the team were arguably at their peak, as they won three La Liga and two Champions League titles.

“Everyone has an opinion but nobody can doubt that he is there, with the greatest of all time,” Guardiola told the press. “For me I said many times, he is the best.

“It would be difficult to understand that a player can compete with what he has done in the last 50 to 70 years.

“With the people who saw Pele or [Alfredo] Di Stefano or [Diego] Maradona, their opinions are often sentimental.

“If he [Messi] had not won the World Cup, my opinion about what he has done for world football, it wouldn’t have changed absolutely anything. Of course, for him it’s the final achievement of an incredible career.”

Manchester City are back in action on Thursday against Liverpool in the League Cup, before returning their focus to the Premier League next week.

There is a big question mark over the fitness of players who played in the World Cup, and those who didn’t play, which includes Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez.

Guardiola thinks the players who went to Qatar will be initially better.

“Today, six players came back,” said Guardiola. “They had an incredible, unique experience. Hopefully they come back and work well and in four years they can have another experience in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

“The players who were at the World Cup are in better condition than the players who were here. Sergio [Gomez], Erling, Riyad and Cole [Palmer], they are missing the rhythm a little bit compared to Rodri or Manuel Akanji. They competed and we had holidays.

“I’m not concerned about March or April now. Now every player has had different managers, a different competition. Their mind was away, but we have an important game tomorrow, then against Leeds, the January schedule is demanding, so we want them back as soon as possible.”