Messi recently secured an unprecedented eighth Ballon d'Or, solidifying his status as the footballing world's greatest player after leading Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022.
Zinedine Zidane, a former Ballon d'Or recipient, had multiple encounters with Messi's Barcelona teams during his tenure as Real Madrid's manager. They even faced off once in 2006 during the latter stages of Zidane's playing career. Notably, Zidane also managed his career-long rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, during a successful three-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.
During an adidas event held at Inter Miami, Zidane and Messi came together for a discussion on various topics. At this event, Zidane had the opportunity to express his genuine thoughts about Messi, reserving high praise for his former adversary.
"In one word, it's 'magic.' Leo and I don't spend every day together, so today is an important day for me because I can convey how much I admire him," Zidane remarked.
"I find it magical, purely magical. By that, I mean that before even receiving the ball, he already knew what needed to be done. As someone who understands football, it was almost as if I could predict your moves when watching you [Messi] on the field. It felt like a connection. When I see him do what he does, I just think, 'that's it.'
"That's what people desire in football. There are only a few, and none quite like him. Very few, well, just one."