Four Ballon D’Or awards. 92 goals in a single season. Multiple championships with Barcelona. He is even on the verge of passing Diego Maradona on the list for Argentina’s top scorers. Is there anything else Lionel Messi needs to do to be considered the top player in the World?
According to Zlatan Ibrahimovic he needs to quit the game to earn the proper evaluation. "I think today for sure Messi is the best player in the world," said Ibrahimovic. "He has been winning this golden ball for so long now (he has won it four times in a row), maybe they should change its name to Messi from the Ballon d'Or."
"He breaks every record there is and is still young, but is he the best ever?” asked the Swedish star. "I think he has to quit football and then you can say if he is the best there has been. We can talk about it now, but when he quits playing I will answer."
Messi and Ibrahimovic played together during the 2009-10 season in Barcelona before Ibrahimovic jumped around Europe from club to club. The two are currently facing off in the Champions league quarterfinals where each player tallied in the opening leg to lead their teams to a 2-2 draw.
Many believe that the one achievement missing from Messi’s resume to deserve the title of “Best Player Ever” is a World Cup championship run with his country. Oddly enough, the player had a chance to join the Spanish U-20 side in 2004 but declined to play for Argentina. If Messi had accepted the offer from Spain, he likely has that elusive World Cup ring. Even if Messi is unable to win the Cup (he has at least two more chances to achieve the feat), he will be the first player tow in four straight Ballon d’Or and holds a substantial lead on the most goals in a calendar year in any competition (92).