Story highlights
Lionel Messi crowned world's best player for record fifth time
Reclaimed the crown after Cristiano Ronaldo's two-year reign
Messi revealed he will stay at Barcelona for rest of his career
Usain Bolt, Roger Federer tell CNN why Messi is great
Lionel Messi is fast running out of records to break, so he’s had to start breaking his own.
And as the Barcelona star was named the world’s best footballer for a record fifth time Monday, even his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo had to concede Messi was superior to him in at least one area.
“His left foot is pretty good – better than mine,” the Portuguese admitted during a press conference ahead of the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich. “I’d like to have his left foot.”
Read: Messi crowned best player on the planet
Argentina’s Messi is Barca and La Liga’s all-time leading goalscorer, not bad for a player who won’t be 29 until June.
However, those football fans around the world hoping for Messi to break records in another club’s shirt look set to be disappointed.
“I want to finish my career at home, and my home is Barca,” he told reporters post-ceremony. “My intention is to terminate my career where I started it in Barcelona.”
Some of world sport’s biggest names – who themselves hold incredible records – have been left in awe of what Messi has achieved in the game.
CNN asked Usain Bolt, Roger Federer and Fernando Alonso, among others, to have their say on what makes Messi great.