Kobe Bryant Was Told In 2005 By Ronaldinho That 17-Year-Old Lionel Messi Would Become The Soccer GOAT

Kobe Bryant was made well aware that the next soccer GOAT was in development when Ronaldinho told him about a 17-year-old Lionel Messi.

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Kobe Bryant was a man of many tastes. Even though he was an NBA superstar coming out of high school in Philadelphia, Bryant had a cultured upbringing because of his father’s European basketball career.

Kobe is a polyglot and speaks multiple languages, but he also appreciates European culture, especially soccer. He forged friendships with many soccer personalities over his career, including Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. Bryant once revealed that Ronaldinho introduced him to 17-year-old Lionel Messi and told him that Messi will become the greatest player in the sport’s history. 

“I’ll tell you a story. A long time ago, Barcelona came to Los Angeles. Ronaldinho was a good friend and I was talking to him when he said, ‘Kobe, I’m going to introduce you to the guy who is going to be the greatest player of all time.’ I said, ‘What? You are the best.’ He said, ‘No no. This kid right here is going to be the best’. That guy was Lionel Messi, who was only 17.”

A sport like soccer has some absolute titans in the conversation for the greatest of all time, but Messi looks to have cemented his name atop the list after his incredible triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It’s a shame that Kobe couldn’t be with us as Messi fulfilled the claims Ronaldinho made.


Kobe Bryant Never Focused Solely On Basketball

Everyone talks about Mamba Mentality and Kobe’s dedication to his craft, but it often gets misunderstood. Mamba Mentality wasn’t about just on-court excellence and basketball practice but a larger mindset that allows you to take on any and every challenge thrown your way. Kobe spent hours in the gym, but he also spent hours reading books and watching movies to keep himself intellectually engaged.

Kobe was achieving great things outside of basketball, including winning an Oscar for his short film ‘Dear Basketball’. The work ethic he used to make his basketball career a success allowed him to focus on other stuff during the peak of his career. Keeping his soccer fandom alive was one of those things, as Bryant was one of the biggest appreciators of the game in American sports during his era.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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