The FIFA World Cup is currently underway in Qatar, and the eyes of many across the world are on the soccer tournament. One of the biggest draws is former Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, who is considered to be the GOAT of soccer by many across the globe. Messi is leading Argentina in what is likely his last World Cup, and the team has made it to the quarter-finals of the tournament. And when he was young, Leo Messi met someone whose mentality matched his.
Kobe Bryant was among the most popular athletes in the world during his time in the NBA. And thanks to his upbringing in Italy, Bryant had a connection to the sport of soccer as well. The Mamba’s constant desire to become better meant he drew inspiration from other athletes at the top of their field too. And he was friends with soccer’s biggest names, including Brazilian icon Ronaldinho. Kobe, Ronaldinho, and Messi were once in the same place together, and Bryant once shared that story.
Kobe Bryant On Meeting A 17-Year-Old Lionel Messi Thanks To Ronaldinho
Thanks to his worldly childhood, Kobe Bryant spoke both Italian and Spanish fluently, along with English. This likely helped when he was trying to interact with South America’s biggest stars. And when giving an interview in Spanish, he told the story of how he met Barcelona’s biggest stars.
“I’ll tell you a story. A long time ago, Barcelona came to Los Angeles. Ronaldinho was a good friend. I was talking with him and he told me, ‘Kobe look, I’m going to introduce you the guy who is going to be the greatest player of all time.’ I said, ‘You what? You are the best. But he said, ‘No, no, this kid right here is going to be the best.’ And that guy was Lionel Messi. And Messi was just 17 years old.”
Special players can always tell when they see other players that have the drive and talent similar to them. So it’s no surprise that Ronaldinho knew Lionel Messi was going to become a superstar and arguably the GOAT when he was still quite young.
Kobe Bryant knows a thing or two about the GOAT conversation, he very much has a case that is supported by some of basketball’s biggest names. And it’s crazy to think that he shared a moment with a young Messi. It must have been quite a memorable interaction for the Argentine as well. If Messi and his teammates can harness the elite mentality Kobe Bryant had, then the World Cup is not beyond their means to achieve.
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