Hristo Stoichkov and Lionel Messi share a historic bond as Barcelona legends. The former Bulgarian striker has stood out as one of the Argentine’s most loyal defenders, frequently describing him as the best player in history.
Now, Stoichkov has once again made headlines after not only defending Leo from criticism but also harshly targeting those who try to piggyback on his achievements.
Stoichkov’s harsh message against those who take credit for Messi’s success
In an interview with Col·lapse on 3Cat (via Sport), the former striker was asked if it was “easy” to interview the current world champion: “Easy. Is it easy? As easy as pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato),” Hristo declared with clear admiration and respect for the Inter Miami star.
Stoichkov revealed that he met Messi when the latter arrived at La Masía at age 13, shortly after he retired, where he also met Puyol, Piqué, Xavi, and Iniesta. Since then, he has highlighted Messi’s consistent humility despite his successes.
However, on this occasion, he also noted that there have always been “opportunists“-people who try to profit from Messi’s greatness, especially now that his legacy is undisputed-and he did not hesitate to lash out at them.
The Bulgarian was emphatic in pointing out that Messi’s career needs no external explanations or intermediaries claiming credit. In his opinion, the Argentine’s career is the result of his talent, effort, and competitive spirit, not the merit of coaches, managers, or former teammates:
“There are people who say, ‘I know Messi,’ ‘I went to eat with Messi,’ ‘thanks to me, Messi plays soccer’… holy sh*t! If the kid doesn’t have the quality, if the kid doesn’t have the spirit, if the kid doesn’t have the natural gift, what the hell have you done for him?” he asked.
Furthermore, beyond the talent Lionel has demonstrated, Stoichkov highlighted his human warmth and his greatness as a person: “Every time I’m with him, whether in Miami, with Argentina, or here in Barcelona, I can only say good things about him.”
Thus, the Barça legend insists that no one should use Messi’s name for their own benefit, as Leo’s legacy stands on its own, based on his talent, modesty, and a unique way of understanding soccer-something he noticed from the first time he saw him at La Masia.
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