šØCASEMIRO ON LIONEL MESSI:
šļøJournalist: Now that youāre playing alongside Messi, what is your honest opinion of him?
š£ļøCasemiro: Honestly, Messi is the greatest footballer of all time. And Iām not saying that just because Iām playing with him. Iāve watched him for years, but when you actually share the pitch with him, you understand how different he is.
The way he sees the game, his decision-making, his first touch⦠everything is at another level. Sometimes he does something and you just wonder how he saw it.
šļøJournalist: What about Ronaldo fans who strongly disagree?
š£ļøCasemiro: I honestly donāt care. They can disagree with me. I respect everyoneās opinion, but Iām giving you mine.
Iāve played with great players throughout my career, but Messi is different. When you play alongside him, you understand why people call him the GOAT.
šļøJournalist: So youāre standing by it?
š£ļøCasemiro: Absolutely. Messi is the greatest footballer Iāve ever seen. Thatās my honest truth, and Iām not changing it because Ronaldo fans donāt like it.
David Beckham on Englandās 2-1 defeat to Argentina after Lionel Messi inspired the comeback.
š£ļø āIāll be honest I exploded when England scored. I was on my feet celebrating because I genuinely thought we had one foot in the World Cup final. Then I looked at the pitch and one thought hit me⦠āMessi is still playing.āā
āAnd thatās the mistake everyone makes. They celebrate too early against a man who has spent nearly twenty years destroying dreams. The scoreboard said England were winning. Messiās face said, āThis game isnāt over.āā
āI know Leo better than most because he plays for my club. Iāve watched him train, Iāve watched him prepare, Iāve watched him win. But even knowing how special he is, what he produced tonight still left me speechless.ā
āEngland had the lead, the momentum and the crowd. Then Messi completely took over the match without even needing to score. Two assists. Two moments of pure genius. He ripped Englandās belief apart and dragged Argentina into another World Cup final.ā
āAt 39 years old, he made some of the best defenders in world football look like they were chasing shadows. Thatās frightening. Most players are retired by that age. Messi is still deciding World Cup semi-finals.ā
āAs an Englishman, this is heartbreaking. As a football man, I have to be honest Iāve never seen anything like him. You can have the perfect game plan, the perfect tactics and the perfect lead, but if Lionel Messi decides the story isnāt finished, heāll rewrite the ending himself.ā
āI celebrated Englandās goal⦠and ten minutes later I was watching the greatest player Iāve ever seen tear our World Cup dream into pieces. Thatās how ruthless he is. Thatās why every generation will remember his name.ā
āI wanted England in the final more than anything. But when Lionel Messi reaches this level, you stop watching a footballer⦠youāre watching football history being written right in front of your eyes.ā
šØLautaro MartĆnez was asked about Lionel Messiās influence during Argentinaās World Cup semi-final victory over England.
šļø Reporter: āLautaro, can you tell us what Lionel Messi said to you after you came on?ā
š£ļø Lautaro MartĆnez:
āPeople see the assists, the dribbles and the magic, but they donāt see what Leo does with his words.
When I came onto the pitch, he walked over to me and said, āAttack the space between the defenders. Go for the headers. Keep making those runs.ā
I tried it the first time and it didnāt work. I looked at him, and instead of telling me to change, he kept giving me signs to keep believing. He knew the opportunity would come.
We were 1ā1 with less than five minutes to play. Leo looked at the scoreboard, then looked straight at me and nodded. He didnāt even have to speak. I knew exactly what he wanted. I knew the assignment.
Thatās what makes him different. He sees the game before everyone else. He knows where the space will open, and he gives you the confidence to attack it without hesitation.
Playing with him is incredible because he doesnāt only create chances with his feet. He creates belief in every player around him.
At 39 years old, heās still leading Argentina in the biggest matches, still deciding games and still showing us why heās the greatest footballer Iāve ever seen.
Weāre in another World Cup final because once again, when Argentina needed someone to guide us, Lionel Messi was that man.ā
šØ Lamine Yamal On Spain World Cup Final:
Reporter:
How does it feel to reach the World Cup final, and who would you prefer to face between England or Argentina?
Yamal: š£ļø It feels great and amazing. What we wished for is now happening. I donāt know - we can face anyone and win. But I would prefer to face Messi. Even if I lose, I will be happy.