Hugo Ekitike believes he can become one of the best strikers in the world at Liverpool, and is using lessons from playing with Lionel Messi in his pursuit.
Ekitike shared the pitch with Messi 24 times during a season-and-a-half at Paris Saint-Germain, but found himself out of the regular starting trio behind Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Unable to break into that high-profile attack, the Frenchman left for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2024 before earning a £79 million transfer to Liverpool.
He has made an impressive start to life at Anfield, with 16 goals in 39 games making him this season’s top scorer, though speaking to Owen Hargreaves in an interview for TNT Sports he admitted there is “room for improvement.”
Why Hugo Ekitike can become one of the world’s best strikers
“I think I can [become one of the best strikers in the world],” Ekitike agreed with Hargreaves.
“There’s room for improvement, I have to work more, progress. But obviously I’m where I wanted to be, I’m here.
“When I say I’m not scared of anything, it’s because I don’t fear pressure.
“People having expectations of me, I actually love that. It’s exciting for me to be here, to play big games, being involved in big competitions.
“I always wanted to be there and play in those kinds of games, being at such a big club. That’s why I said that and I still feel the same.”
3CTYD64 Wroclaw, Poland. 05th Sep, 2025. Hugo Ekitike of France seen during European World Cup Qualifiers 2026 football match between Ukraine and France at Stadium Wroclaw (Wroclaw). Final score Ukraine 0 : 2 France (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa US/Alamy Live News
Ekitike had the opportunity to play in big games while at PSG, including four appearances in the Champions League, but his time in Paris was effectively a learning experience.
“I can’t lie, it was difficult for me to go on the pitch and be able to do what they were doing on the same level,” he said of the trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe.
“I think I never reached that level, not even yet.
“So it was about learning, off the pitch, in training I saw a lot of great things.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 31, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“It’s not even skills. I learned how to move without the ball, to touch the ball, how to score goals, the confidence in the game.
“When you look back you think it wasn’t a great time for me, but I think that’s what I needed at that time.
“I learned so much, honestly I’m so grateful to have been there with such good players.
“And obviously when I look back it’s just a great picture that I can put in my house: I played with the best player in the history of football.”
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