NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo says Lionel Messi has set the blueprint for sporting greatness, describing the Argentina captain as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Antetokounmpo made the remarks on Thursday after arriving in Miami to begin a new chapter with the Miami Heat following his trade from the Milwaukee Bucks.
The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player said Messi, alongside LeBron James, had shown what it takes to achieve sustained success at the highest level.
He said: “You’ve just got to follow. It’s hard. You have to be disciplined.
“You have to be dedicated to your craft. But it’s there. And if you want to follow, you follow.
“If you don’t want to follow, you go home.”
Antetokounmpo watched Messi lead Argentina to a 2-1 victory over England in the FIFA World Cup semi-final on Wednesday before travelling to Miami for his official unveiling.
Reflecting on Messi’s career, he said he had been thinking about the Argentine’s journey from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain and later to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
He noted that many expected Messi’s move to the United States in 2023 to mark the end of his dominance, but said the veteran forward had continued to excel.
Antetokounmpo said: “Messi might go down as one of the best athletes of all time.”
He praised the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s achievements in Spain, France and the United States, adding: “He might have two World Cup Finals wins.”
According to the Greek international, Messi’s consistency and longevity continue to inspire athletes across different sports.
He said: “When you see that, you get inspired.
“You definitely get inspired to take care of your body, to keep doing the right thing for your team.”
Antetokounmpo also recalled a moment during Argentina’s victory over England when Messi was knocked to the ground before his teammates rushed to his aid.
He said: “And then you could see all of his teammates sprinted to help him out.”
The Heat forward added: “You have to earn that. The respect that he has from his team-mates, that’s earned … hopefully in my career I’m able to do something like that.”
