YOUTUBER-turned boxer Jake Paul has suggested Lionel Messi is the ‘greatest athlete ever’
The Argentina legend, 35, has been an inspiration for club and country.
For Barcelona he scored an amazing 672 goals, while the seven-time Ballon d’or winner was instrumental in his country winning the World Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout against France.
And now, he’s seemingly got a fan in social media king Paul.
While watching the World Cup final, The Problem Child couldn’t help but heap praise on Messi.
He wrote on Twitter: “Hard to admit as an American..but Messi may be the greatest athlete ever. 5’7, 148 lbs..Greatest non-penalty scorer of all time, greatest assister of all time.
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“In a sport that has more people playing it than any other. GAOAT. Agree?”
However, Paul couldn’t help but tip his cap to an icon from a sport he now knows well, boxing.
The 25-year-old revealed he believes Muhammad Ali had the biggest impact on sport as a whole.
He added: “Muhammad Ali still the most impactful though.”
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Ali’s storied career saw him fight 61 times – winning 56 of his fights.
He thrived in the spotlight – showing off a gift for the gab and backed that up with some thrilling performances.
His most notable bouts included highly publicised fights with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier in the ‘Thrilla in Manila’, as well as ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ against George Foreman.
While outside the ring, Ali, who died aged 74 in 2016 after a long battle with Parkinson’s, was a black activist, spoke out against the Vietnam War, and his philanthropy was recognised the world over.
Famously, Ali also helped negotiate the release of 15 hostages in Iraq in 1990.
Messi, on the other hand, has lit up the football world since making his debut in 2004 with the Catalans.
He has won more Ballon d’or titles than any other footballer, as well as four Champions League titles.
Like Ali, Messi is also charitable – and has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2004.
He also has the Leo Messi Foundation which aims to give children from poorer backgrounds equal opportunities.
Argentina ran out winners on penalties after a 3-3 draw in one of the greatest matches ever played.
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After Lionel Messi’s side raced into a 2-0 lead, Kylian Mbappe fired a rapid-fire brace to take the game to extra time.
Messi and Mbappe would then net again in extra time to send the game a shootout where the Argentines won 4-2.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
