He is the best of all time — Messi names greatest ever manager

Messi, who is arguably the greatest ever footballer, has played for and against hundreds of coaches but one man stands out, Manchester City bos Pep Guardiola.

"For me, Guardiola is unique," Messi said via ESPN.

"There are extraordinarily good coaches, but he has something different. For me, he's the best of all of them."

Messi was the centerpiece of Guardiola's legendary Barcelona team, which captured an incredible 14 major trophies between 2008 and 2012. Despite having played under numerous esteemed managers, the Inter Miami forward holds Guardiola in a class of his own.

"When it comes to seeing things, preparing for matches, and communicating with the players, he's very complete," Messi explained.

"He's the best, and we were lucky to have him at Barcelona. He got together with the players we had and the right pieces came together for what he intended, to achieve everything that was achieved."

The Argentine captain also expressed admiration for Guardiola's ability to leave a lasting mark on every club he has managed, transforming the style of play in different leagues.

"He went to other places and continued winning," Messi said.

"It's not just because of winning but because of the way his teams played. He did it at Bayern, and although he couldn't win the Champions League there, he changed the way the game was played in Germany. The same in England with City; he changed the way the league is played."

Following his tenure at Barça, Guardiola led Bayern Munich to three consecutive Bundesliga titles, including two domestic doubles.

Since joining Manchester City in 2016, he has amassed 18 trophies, highlighted by six Premier League crowns and a Champions League title.