Sir Alex Ferguson has had the privilege of witnessing the greatest players in football history do what they do best: perform on the pitch. The legendary former Manchester United manager even had the pleasure of coaching some of the finest talents to ever grace the beautiful game during his 29-year managerial stint.
Whether it be as a young child watching on as a fan or as an experienced veteran in the dugout, there haven't been many world-class players to pass Sir Alex by. In fact, all the way back in 2011, the ex-Aberdeen tactician made sure to give the very best players he had witnessed their flowers.
Initially asked a question about how then-Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi stacked up in comparison to the other greats of the game, Ferguson quickly turned the conversation into one about players he would describe as 'generational'.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Lionel Messi Could Play in Any Generation
There was no mention of Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi was already at the peak of his powers by the time 2011 rolled around, with the Barcelona star lifting three Champions League titles, several La Liga crowns and two Ballon d'Or awards (picking up the third that year). In both of the European finals he played in, Messi put Ferguson's Man United side to the sword and even found the net on both occasions.
Therefore, the Scottish genius was all too aware of just how special the diminutive playmaker really was. At the 2011 Ballon d'Or ceremony, Ferguson was asked if Messi belonged among the very best players to have lived, with Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, and Diego Maradona all cited in the question. He responded:
"Yes, I would agree with that completely.
"Critics have always questioned whether players like Pele from the 50s could play today. The answer to that is great players would play in any generation."
Arguing that the five superstars in question could have played in any era of the sport, Ferguson effectively signed off on the quintet as the best to ever do it. The now 83-year-old continued: "Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, because they are all great players. Lionel Messi, without question, comes into that category."
The common trait among the five players discussed was the superior football IQ they had over their peers. Messi, Maradona and Cruyff were as quick in their minds as they were with the ball at their feet, which says something when you see their dazzling dribbling abilities.
Meanwhile, Pele and Alfredo Di Stefano were two of the very best players at putting the ball in the back of the net, the hardest job in football. One man who wasn't brought into that conversation at all was thegreatest goalscorer of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ferguson brought the Portuguese superstar to Old Trafford as a young player in 2003 before helping him transform into the five-time Ballon d'Or-winning monster he became. Ronaldo is widely seen as one of the greatest players ever, which Ferguson would now likely agree with, 14 years after his praise for Messi et al.
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 03-08-25.