Trent Alexander-Arnold has named Lionel Messi because the hardest opponent he has confronted in his profession and acclaimed his legendary standing.
All through his eight seasons at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold has performed towards among the greatest and finest names in soccer.
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Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard are simply a few of these, in addition to Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski.
However when requested to pick out the very best participant he is come up towards, he was fast to call file eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.
Alexander-Arnold has solely confronted the Argentine icon as soon as – in Liverpool’s well-known Champions League semi-final comeback at Anfield, which featured that help for Divock Origi – however it’s clear he did sufficient to take prime spot for the 25-year-old.
“It must be Messi for me, the very best participant I’ve performed, for me the very best participant that is ever performed the sport,” he instructed The Mirror.
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He was then requested if Messi was higher than legend Diego Maradona, and replied: “I by no means watched Maradona so I do not know… to think about anybody higher than what I have been in a position to see… my mind would not know it, there is no method anybody may be higher.”
“There’s only a completely different feeling taking part in towards him than I’ve ever felt with anybody else.
“You are at all times on pink alert when the ball’s close to him, I feel it’s totally uncommon for a participant to have that sort of feeling, to place that feeling into different gamers. So for that cause I’ve to say him.
“For me, I feel in lots of, many elements of the sport he is most likely the very best at any given second. He can virtually do what he desires on a soccer pitch, so yeah, for that cause he is the very best.”
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Alexander-Arnold’s resolution to call Messi as his hardest opponent might not come as a shock to many given his immense standing.
The 37-year-old gained ten LaLiga titles and 4 Champions Leagues amongst different varied home and European titles at Barcelona.
Messi additionally gained two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain earlier than serving to information present membership Inter Miami to their first each trophy win with the Leagues Cup final 12 months.
He has additionally gained the World Cup with Argentina and just lately lifted his second Copa America along with his nation.
Now that Messi performs in MLS, Alexander-Arnold might by no means face him once more except they meet on the worldwide stage.
The defender quickly may very well be set for pastures new this summer season as talkSPORT understands Actual Madrid are eyeing a transfer.
Alexander-Arnold is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract at Anfield, though it’s unclear if Liverpool will entertain their homegrown star and membership vice-captain leaving.
