Lionel Messi of Argentina

Lionel Messi is a player whose incredible performances demand superlatives – and boy, people have queued up to pay tribute to the diminutive Barcelona and Argentina superstar.

Here’s our pick of the most profound, wittiest and most eloquent words of wisdom about one of the undisputed greats of football history:

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“For me, to watch Messi play is a pleasure – it’s like having an orgasm – it’s an incredible pleasure.” – Luis Figo

“Once they said they can only stop me with a pistol. Today you need a machine gun to stop Messi.” – Hristo Stoichkov

“Messi or Ronaldo best player in the world? In the world, I would say Ronaldo. Messi is from another planet.” – Turkish international Arda Turan

“Messi is God, as a person and even more as a player. I knew him when he was a boy and I’ve watched him grow. He deserves it all.” – Samuel Eto’o

“Although he may not be human, it’s good that Messi still thinks he is.” – Javier Mascherano

“They tell me that all men are equal in God’s eyes, this player makes you seriously think about those words.” – Football commentator Ray Hudson

“Newton and Einstein had a certain level of autism – I hope that, like them, Messi surpasses himself every day and continues to give us his beautiful brand of football.” – Romario

“Messi is the Mozart of football.” – Radomir Antic

“It is clear that Messi is on a level above all others. Those who do not see that are blind.” – Xavi

“There are three or four important things in life: books, friends, women… and Messi.” – Portuguese writer Antonio Lobo Antunes

“Barca will never have a player like Messi again. Messi’s greatness is present on and off the field of play.” – Barcelona president Sandro Rosell

“At this point I’m starting to believe that Messi is tightly related to Clark Kent.” – Israeli model Bar Rafaeli

“Messi is class. There is him, and then there is the rest. What he does is extraordinary.” – Franck Ribery

“We give him the ball and stand back and watch. People often say to me they saw Pele and Maradona play. In the future, I will be able to say I saw Messi play.” – Thiago Alcanatara

“He is always going forwards. He never passes the ball backwards or sideways. He has only one idea, to run towards the goal. So as a football fan, just enjoy the show.” – Zinedine Zidane

“He sees passes that most people can only see whilst watching the game on TV, not ones that you can normally see on the pitch.” – Tata Martino

“For the world of football, Messi is a treasure because he is role model for children around the world… Messi will be the player to win the most Ballons d’Or in history. He will win five, six, seven. He is incomparable. He’s in a different league.” – Johan Cruyff

“There is no doubt, you’re from another galaxy. Thanks Leo.” – Maxi Rodriguez

“Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi.” – Arsene Wenger

“I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius.” – Diego Maradona

“I like Messi a lot, he’s a great player. Technically, we’re practically at the same level.” – Pele

“I played with Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Laudrup and Stoichkov but Messi is the best I’ve seen” – Former Barcelona and Chelsea star Albert Ferrer

“It feels good to be in the same generation as him. I believe he’s the best player in the history of the sport.” – Gerard Pique

“Messi defies the laws of anatomy, he must have an extra bone in his ankle.” – Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning coach Carlos Bilardo

“Who’s better, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Messi. Ronaldo is good, but Messi is 10 times better.” – Dutch star Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

“Lionel Messi is quite clearly the best player ever. It’s a pleasure to pit myself against him and when I finish my career it’s something I can look back on and know I’ve tested myself against the very best.” – John Terry

“In my entire life I have never seen a player of such quality and personality at such a young age, particularly wearing the ‘heavy’ shirt of one of the world’s great clubs.” – Fabio Capello

“I am not crazy enough to compare myself with Messi because he is the best there ever was and the best there will ever be.” – Mario Gomez

“I was a big fan of Maradona growing up and of the current crop Ronaldo is good but Messi is the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t dish out praise lightly but Messi deserves it. I look for weaknesses in his game and I can’t find them.” – Roy Keane

“Messi is the best player ever. And this is said by someone who has seen Maradona and Pele play.” – AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani

“He is the best in the world. Football seems easy when he plays it.” – Bacary Sagna

“The other day I saw one of his games. He was running with the ball at a hundred percent full speed, I don’t know how many touches he took, maybe five or six, but the ball was glued to his foot. It’s practically impossible.” – Real Madrid legend Raul

“If he is so good, how can you express that? The superlatives ran out ages ago. On these pages, swearing has been tried. Or perhaps a symbol, something to signify that we have gone beyond words now.” – Football writer Sid Lowe

“Don’t write about him, don’t try to describe him. Just watch him.” – Pep Guardiola