Pep Guardiola has once again labelled Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time.

The Manchester City boss has always been effusive in his praise of his former protégé, who he coached whilst in charge of Barcelona for four years between 2008 and 2012.

Messi and Guardiola led Barca through their greatest periodGetty

In a golden era for the club, the pair lifted three LaLiga titles and won the Champions League twice, with Messi undoubtedly the star man in an all-conquering side.

The Argentine icon scored 211 goals in 219 games under Guardiola‘s tutelage, and received four consecutive Ballon d’Or awards between 2009 and 2012.

And the brilliance Messi showcased during this time has left the Spanish coach in no doubt that he ranks above all else in football’s all-time category.

In a recent interview with Italian TV Show Che Tempo Che Fa, Guardiola placed the 37-year-old among other sporting greats in terms of his individual excellence.

He said: “For me it’s easy to say he’s the best of all time, but the stars came together at the right moment. The GOAT? Maybe that’s a lack of respect to Pele and [Diego] Maradona, but for me, he is.

“I’ve never seen someone like him as a coach, you can’t imagine him maintaining this continuity for 15-20 years.

“When you see him up close, you think of Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan, we were lucky to work with him.”

This is not the first time the six-time Premier League-winning manager has hailed Messi as football’s standout talent.

Speaking after the current Inter Miami captain lifted the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, Guardiola reiterated the same opinion.

The 53-year-old said: “Everyone has an opinion but nobody can doubt that he is there, with the greatest of all time.

Credit: YouTube: @NoveThe Man City manager gushed over Messi’s abilities in a recent interview[/caption]

He likened him to legendary golfer Tiger Woods, who has won 15 majorsGetty

Six-time NBA winner Michael Jordan is widely acclaimed as the greatest basketball player of all timeAFP

“For me I said many times, he is the best, but it will be difficult to understand.

“A player can appear and compete with what he has done in the last 50 years to 70 years, but the people who saw Pele or [Alfredo] Di Stefano or Maradona, they can say [they are] their favourite. Because often these opinions they are sentimental, you know?

“But on the other side, if he had not won the World Cup, my opinion about what he has done for world football, it wouldn’t have changed absolutely anything. “

And respect between the hugely successful pair is mutual, with Messi placing Guardiola top among the coaches he has worked with.

In a 2022 interview with Movistar, the former Barcelona hero said of his old manager: “Pep is the best coach I’ve ever had.

“Everything he planned always ended up happening. He is special in the way he sees things, prepares for matches and communicates.”

While Messi soared to incredible heights during his time working under Guardiola, his achievements since then have been equally impressive.

On top of a further four Ballon d’Or awards in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023, he added five more LaLiga winner’s medals and won the 2015 Champions League with Barcelona to his huge trophy cabinet.

Messi has won six international trophies with Argentina – including the 2022 World CupGetty

Following his move 2021 move to Paris Saint-Germain, Messi won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in his two years in the French capital.

Now plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami, his 30 goals in 34 games have led the David Beckham-owned franchise to two trophies, most recently claiming the league’s Supporters’ Shield.

Having topped this season’s Eastern Conference, Inter are now among the favourites to lift the MLS Cup with victory in the play-offs.