Dutch legend, Marco van Basten, has hit out at Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi’s personality, insisting that the Argentina captain is not among the three greatest players in history.
Van Basten believes Messi is not a warrior, adding that the likes of Pele, late Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff are ahead of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
According to him, the former Barcelona captain is not the one who puts himself at the front to go to war.
“Pele, [Diego] Maradona and [Johan] Cruyff are for me the three greatest players in history,” Van Basten told France Football.
“As a kid, I wanted to be like Cruyff. He was my friend. I miss him. Pele and Maradona were also incredible.
“Messi is also a great player, but Maradona always had more personality in a team. Messi is not the one who puts himself at the front to go to war.”
Van Basten also revealed other players who also deserve to be among the best.
“I’m not forgetting Cristiano Ronaldo, [Michel] Platini or [Zinedine] Zidane,” he added.