{"id":25096,"date":"2026-03-06T15:37:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/david-villa-praises-lionel-messi-ive-never-seen-anyone-to-compare-with-him\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:37:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:37:53","slug":"david-villa-praises-lionel-messi-ive-never-seen-anyone-to-compare-with-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/david-villa-praises-lionel-messi-ive-never-seen-anyone-to-compare-with-him\/","title":{"rendered":"David Villa praises Lionel Messi: ‘I’ve never seen anyone to compare with him’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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F<\/span>Former Spanish striker David Villa says he has never seen a player comparable to Lionel Messi, whom he considers to be the best soccer player in the world. He made the comments in an interview on the podcast “Resonancia de Corazon” hosted by Jose Ramon de la Morena.<\/p>\n
Villa, who played alongside Messi at FC Barcelona from 2010 to 2013, recalled that the Argentine’s image on TV was nowhere near as good as the one he showed in his daily training sessions.<\/p>\n
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Inter Miami’s visit to the White House creates awkward atmosphere for Messi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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I’ve always said, there are a thousand newspaper archives out there and I’ve never seen anything that compares to Leo. That’s what I saw with my eyes. he is the best player in the world<\/p>\n
david villa<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The 2010 World Cup winner with Spain’s national team said:<\/p>\n
Messi’s influence on training<\/h2>\n
The former footballer known as “El Guaje” explained that when he arrived in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bhe discovered an even more impressive version of the Argentine star.<\/p>\n
He said Messi showed exceptional ability in every position on the field during training. He also told an anecdote about his encounter with then-Rose goalkeeper Victor Valdes.<\/p>\n
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I told Victor that if this boy says he wants to be a goalkeeper one day, I’ll take your place.<\/p>\n
david villa<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Villa explained that since Messi participated in the possession practice as a wildcard, he was able to excel in any role during the practice, including playing as a center forward and taking free kicks.<\/p>\n
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He was a joker and played better than Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. It was a great header if he was a striker. And when he took the free kick, he took it all in.<\/p>\n
david villa<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The striker also recalled that many of the goals he scored for Barcelona were assisted by Argentine players.<\/p>\n
“I scored 49 goals and most of them came from his boots,” he said.<\/p>\n
Messi and his leadership in the 2022 World Cup<\/h2>\n
Villa also highlighted the leadership Messi showed for the Argentina national team during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n
He also emphasized that the Argentina captain helped his country win the World Cup even at the advanced stages of his career.<\/p>\n
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In addition to his talent, both mentally and physically he is different and he proved it by carrying Argentina on his back in every match at the 2022 World Cup.<\/p>\n
david villa<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Coaches who shaped his career<\/h2>\n
During the conversation, Villa also talked about the coach who had the most influence on his professional career.<\/p>\n
Among them, he particularly focused on Luis Aragon\u00e9s and Josep Guardiola.<\/p>\n
He explained that Aragon\u00e9s was the manager who had the most influence on his personal and mental development, and that Guardiola had asked him to do more tactically during his time at Barcelona.<\/p>\n
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Luis Aragon\u00e9s was at his best mentally and motivated. And Pep was the one who prepared me the most tactically.<\/p>\n
david villa<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Villa also had to adapt to new tactical demands under Guardiola, but recalled that he had never experienced anything so intense at a club before.<\/p>\n
Important facts about the news:<\/h2>\n
David Villa played for FC Barcelona from 2010 to 2013. He shared the team with Lionel Messi for three seasons. Vila believe the Argentine is the best player they have ever seen. He emphasized Messi’s leadership at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He cited Luis Aragon\u00e9s and Josep Guardiola as the most influential managers of his career.<\/p><\/div>\n