Lionel Messi compares Argentina squad to 'best team in history' Barcelona | OneFootball

Lionel Messi believes that Argentina's current cohort is comparable to the Barcelona teams that conquered European football earlier in his career.

The 36-year-old - named by 90min as the greatest footballer of all time - led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and has continued his scoring exploits into their 2026 qualifying campaign.

Messi scored a match-winning brace in a 2-0 victory away at Peru on Tuesday night to maintain their 100% record in 2023, prevailing in all eight games they've played this calendar year.

In a post-match interview, Messi admitted that while some of the Barcelona teams he played in were slightly better, this iteration of Argentina could rival them as 'the best in history'.

Speaking to TyC Sports, Messi declared: "Comparing [this Argentina team] with Barcelona, which was the best in history, is a lot. But I think this team is very close.

"This team is incredible, every time they play they are very close to being the best in history. On a game level I think we have grown. After winning the World Cup we are confident, very loose, more united and firm. Hopefully we can continue to grow."

Messi spent the bulk of his career at Barcelona but is likely referring to the teams he played in that were coached by Pep Guardiola.

In four years with Guardiola at the helm, Barca won 14 major honours, including three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.

The second of those European Cups came in 2011, beating Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium. Following the final, Sir Alex Ferguson hailed that Barcelona team as the greatest he came up against as a manager.

"They're the best in Europe, no question about that. In my time as a manager, I would say they're the best team we've faced. Everyone acknowledges that and I accept that. It's not easy when you've been well beaten like that to think another way," he said.