Lionel Messi is a player who will never be reached again, according to former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera, who stated he has never witnessed another footballer quite like the Argentine during his professional career. Herrera shared his thoughts during an extensive interview with former English defender Rio Ferdinand, discussing his career that has led him to Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, the Boca Juniors, and his current time at Saragossa.
Herrera Praises Messi’s Daily Consistency in Training
During his time sharing a dressing room with Messi in the French capital, Herrera observed that the forward’s extraordinary abilities extended far beyond matchdays. Speaking to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Herrera emphasized that greatness is not limited to weekend fixtures, highlighting Messi’s relentless standard during daily sessions. How often did he lose the ball in training? Never. It was crazy. Leo, every day!
Herrera told Ferdinand.
Ander Herrera on witnessing Lionel Messi’s greatness at PSG: “I used to count how many times Messi lost the ball in training. The number was ZERO. He NEVER lost it. It was absolutely crazy. We will NEVER see another player like him.” Question: “Which player gave you the most… pic.twitter.com/4FaKjknIId”
The 37-year-old Spanish midfielder added that acknowledging team hierarchy remains essential for squad harmony. According to Herrera, understanding who holds the primary star status allows supporting players to carve out spaces that ultimately elevate the collective output of the team.
Balancing Star-Studded Locker Rooms Across Europe
Addressing the complexities of managing elite dressing rooms, Herrera pointed to managerial approaches he witnessed firsthand throughout his career. He highlighted current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti as an example of successful squad management, noting how the Italian tactician successfully navigated dressing rooms containing Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Sergio Ramos.
Conversely, Herrera discussed Paris Saint-Germain’s tactical evolution under Luis Enrique, noting that the current PSG coach chose to move away from relying heavily on individual superstars to avoid potential squad friction. And look what he has achieved with Paris Saint-Germain,
Herrera noted.
Assessing the Attacking Talents of Paris
When Ferdinand brought up three prominent forwards from PSG’s recent history—Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé—Herrera expanded the roster to include a fourth vital teammate. The Basque midfielder added Ángel Di María to the conversation while maintaining that Messi remains entirely unmatched. Within his evaluation of the front line, Herrera described Neymar as a player who embodies the magic of football, while labeling Mbappé as a superhero figure on the pitch.
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