Football
ESPN staff 8y

'Ronaldinho made us global and Messi has made us universal' - Bartomeu

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has credited Lionel Messi for making the Catalan club "universal," and has stamped the newly-crowned Ballon d'Or winner the best player in the game's history.

Messi collected his record fifth FIFA World Player of the Year award earlier on Monday, beating Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barca teammate Neymar to the prize. Messi, who is the Blaugrana's all-time leading scorer, has won four Champions League titles during his time with Barcelona and helped make the club a household name throughout the world.

Speaking to La Repubblica on Monday, Bartomeu assessed the Argentine's place in Barcelona, and football, history.

Said Bartomeu: "Messi deserves everything. He is the best player in history; the statistics say so and he isn't going to stop here. There has never been a player like him in history and nobody will ever exceed him.

"We have had great players before, from the days of Laszlo Kubala and Luis Suarez. [Johan] Cruyff, as a player, made us relevant again and as a manager he put us on the map with the European Cup win in 1992. Ronaldinho made us global and Messi has made us universal."

Bartomeu added that Barcelona's unique style and Messi's appeal have won the admiration of football fans all over.

"We don't want to win in just any way. This is the Dutch school of [Rinus] Michels, Cruyff, [Louis] Van Gaal and [Frank] Rijkaard. At the centre of every decision is the ball; if you treat it well, you will be rewarded. We are a global club, respected and admired, with the mission to entertain.

"When I am abroad people say to me: 'I'm not a Barcelona fan, but they captivate me.'"

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