Question, level 1: Who is the best manager for Messi?

None other than 38-year-old football legend Lionel Messi has crowned Pep Guardiola as the greatest coach of them all.

Speaking to ESPN, the former Barcelona superstar looked back on their early days together: "I had met him once, but I didn't know him, we had no relationship until he became our coach in Barcelona. Pep is unique. There are exceptionally good coaches, but he has something special – for me, he is the best of them all." Messi didn’t stop there, adding: "The way he sees things, prepares for games, communicates. For me, he is the best. We were lucky that we all came together in Barcelona – him and all of us. He had the players he needed to achieve his goals."

Guardiola’s spell at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012 became the stuff of football folklore: three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, and a Champions League triumph, among countless other honors.

Now 54, Guardiola continues to earn praise not only for winning, but for reshaping the sport wherever he goes. His philosophy left its mark at Bayern Munich (2013–2016) and has defined Manchester City’s identity since 2016.

Messi elaborated: “Even though he didn’t win the Champions League with Bayern, he changed the way football is played in Germany, where people were used to a different style. He did the same thing in England. He doesn’t just change one team, he changes the way the entire league plays.” Messi explained that their bond was strong from day one: "We talked a lot, and I learned an enormous amount from him. I further developed my game beyond what I already knew. I learned a lot from him – how to move, how to read space."

Ultimate American showdown: Messi vs Muller

Messi represented Barcelona’s first team from 2005 to 2021 before heading to PSG for two seasons, eventually making his high-profile move to Inter Miami in MLS.

With Miami, Messi is set to face former Bayern star Thomas Muller and his Vancouver Whitecaps in Saturday’s championship final.