Barcelona icon Lionel Messi explains why Real Madrid are the best team in the world

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi will forever be associated with Barcelona after his trophy-laden time in Catalonia, although even he has been forced to admit, in an interview with Infobae, that Real Madrid are currently the best club team on the planet following yet another Champions League victory.

Messi’s record against Real Madrid for Barcelona

Messi was, of course, Los Blancos’ tormentor-in-chief between October 2004, when he made his competitive debut for La Blaugrana, and the end of the 2020/21 season, when he left against his wishes for Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentina captain is the all-time top scorer in El Clásico with 26 goals in 45 appearances in all competitions. For reference, he scored eight more goals in the fixture than Real Madrid duo Alfredo Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo.

From 2004 to 2021, Messi led Barcelona to 10 LaLiga titles, with Real Madrid crowned Spanish champions on only five occasions in that period. The Catalans also began to gain the upper hand in the Champions League, a trend which has quickly reversed in recent years, and is the reason Messi believes Madrid are “the best team” at present.

“The best team is Real Madrid. They are most recent Champions League winners. If you’re basing it on results, it’s Real Madrid. If it’s on style of play, then it’s Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.”

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: recent Champions League records

Messi won Champions League four times with Barcelona, although he missed the 2005/06 final against Arsenal due to injury.

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Madrid also won the tournament on four occasions during his time in the Catalonian capital, although their recent successes have left their Clásico rivals trailing in their wake.

Los Blancos’ recent win over Borussia Dortmund means they have been crowned European champions five times since Barcelona’s last triumph in 2015, while they now have 15 European Cup/Champions League victories to Barça’s five overall.