HEnrik Larsson had one of the most memorable and famous hairstyles in football in the 1990s due to his dreadlocks. Because of his Latin or Caribbean appearance, there were even questions as to whether he was Swedish, but he was a member of the Swedish national team. He was part of that historic Swedish team that finished third at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and doubted Leo Messi a few years later.
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After establishing himself as an idol and icon at Celtic in the Scottish league, Larsson arrived at Barcelona as a reinforcement in 2004, but aroused suspicion as he was said to be unsuited for an organization like the Catalan club. To the surprise of many, he fitted in quickly and was the driving force behind all of his victories with the Blaugrana, including the 2006 Champions League.
The Swede’s two seasons with the Spanish club coincided with the beginning of Lionel Messi’s professional career. Larson was already a veteran of the game, but the Argentine was just beginning to take his first steps on the pitch at a high level.
Messi wasn’t in the team in my first year. But during the preseason of my second year, I think it was in Japan, I saw him on a plane, but I didn’t really pay attention to him. Then I saw him training and asked Giovanni (van Bronckhorst): “Who is that?
From 2004 to 2006, the best player on the planet was Ronaldinho. The Brazilian star stole the spotlight, hogged the front pages and received the most praise from both teammates and rivals. At the time, we could not have imagined what would happen to Messi later.
No, I didn’t know (that Messi would soon become one of the best players). Many people have seen Ronaldinho. I was playing with Ronaldinho at the time. he was the best (at the time)
When other football players in the locker room praised Messi’s talent, Larsson doubted him. Although he saw the qualities and aptitude of this boy, he did not believe that it was enough to equal Ronaldinho, much less surpass him.
He (Messi) could do everything with the ball and was efficient. I didn’t think Messi was that good. He had everything: technique, speed, left foot, but it was hard for me to see anyone better than Ronaldinho.
Little did he imagine that what he achieved at Barcelona would later be tripled by Lionel Messi as the architect of the Catalan club’s golden era. Now, Larson is devoted to reflecting on the magic that a former soccer player and boy who became a sacred monster of the ball bestowed on soccer.
