Lionel Messi and Florian Wirtz - Source: Getty
Lionel Messi and Florian Wirtz - Source: Getty
Liverpool star Florian Wirtz is not interested in comparisons with Lionel Messi. The German hailed the Inter Miami captain as the best footballer ever and added that he has been an idol to him in his career.
Speaking to WDR, Wirtz said that Messi was on a completely different level and there was no one like the Argentine. He does not want anyone to compare him to the Barcelona legend and said:
"You definitely can't compare me to Messi, because he is on a completely different level. There has never been anyone as good as he is. That's why I liked looking up to him.."
Former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso compared Wirtz to Messi during their time together at Bayer Leverkusen. He claimed that the German had similar qualities to the Inter Miami captain and said in 2023 (via GOAL):
"There are good players, and there are players who look good on the pitch. The player who looks good does things that are nice, but not necessarily efficient. Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says: 'You're in a better position? Here, there you have the ball!' It's not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That's why he's so good."
Liverpool star Florian Wirtz has never faced Lionel Messi in a competitive game. The 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal could be the first time they clash on the pitch, if results go their way.
Lionel Messi was Liverpool star Florian Wirtz's first jersey
Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz spoke to Sky Germany in 2024, revealing that his first jersey was Lionel Messi's Argentine kit. The 22-year-old admitted that he looks up to the Argentine, adding that he focuses on how the Inter Miami captain handles situations on the pitch and said (via GOAL):
"My first jersey, however, was Messi's Argentina jersey. When I was little, he was the best player there was at the time in the world. I watched videos of him, was a fan of his - I wanted to be as good as him. Of course, I've developed my own style in the meantime. But nobody can play like Messi - he has his own way of playing. Sometimes, I watch more specifically how he solves situations."
Lionel Messi has not confirmed whether he will play for Argentina at the FIFA World Cup this summer.