Messi was interviewed by NBC TV. During the interview, he talked about the topic of GOAT and said that Maradona is the greatest idol.
Reporter: "You are the best (GOAT) in history, right? In other sports, who are the 'best in history' athletes that you admire?"
Messi: "For us Argentines, Maradona is the greatest A big idol, everything he represents makes us admire him so much. Although I didn't see much of his live games when I was a kid, Diego (Maradona) has already transcended everything. "When it comes to another sport, Jordan is the same (legend). I also admire tennis players like Federer, Rafa (Nadal) and Djokovic. I think the three of them have made tennis more impactful than it has ever been. Their long-running rivalry for the top spot, and the fact that they're so close in quality, makes it all the more incredible.
"I'm definitely missing a lot of athletes, but if I want to highlight a few, I'll say them first. In basketball, LeBron (James) and Steph (Curry)... They are both players that I admire very much. I think they understand the game deeply and each promotes the development of basketball in a unique way."