Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra doesn't believe Lionel Messi needs to win the World Cup in order to be considered the greatest footballer in history.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward will be in action on Sunday as Argentina face off against reigning champions France in the World Cup final in Qatar. Messi, who has never won the prestigious trophy in his distinguished career, will be desperate to be victorious in his final World Cup appearance.
Many people have suggested that the 35-year-old needs to win the World Cup if he wants to be considered the best player ever, while others have insisted that the attacker isn't quite under that much pressure.
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While the Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate is one that has rumbled on for more than a decade, but former United full-back Evra has suggested that both players are already the 'greatest'.
"I don't think Messi should win the World Cup to be the greatest. The debate will always be there. Look at Cristiano, some people think the Euros is more difficult to win than the World Cup," Evra told Betfair.
"Messi and Ronaldo are already the greatest. It's disrespectful to say 'if he wins, he's the greatest'. For some people, Messi is the greatest, for some people Ronaldo is the greatest and this will never change. We need to stop comparing, you pick a side.
"I prefer Ronaldo, because I love his work ethic or I prefer Messi because I love his talent. In this society, you're not allowed to make a choice, when you make a choice, if you like Ronaldo then you automatically hate Messi and if you like Messi then you hate Ronaldo.
"Everyone has an opinion and we need to respect that. Some people can say they like both, I love both. I choose Ronaldo over Messi because I'm a fan of people's work ethic but I'm a fan of what I see in Messi.
"Messi can walk for the whole of the game but actually he's not walking, he is a genius, he's reading the game, he's still in the game while walking. Who can do that? Nobody.
Argentina will come up against Evra's national side on Sunday, and the ex-defender - who made 81 appearances for his country - has claimed that the South American outfit would not have reached the final without Messi.
He added: "If Messi wasn't playing for Argentina, Argentina wouldn't be in the final. For me, the game where he wowed me was against Mexico, all game they were tight on him, I felt the goal before it happened because he was in that pocket where nobody was.
"I said Mexico is in trouble, this is Lionel Messi so let's not debate about the greatest. He is the greatest along with Ronaldo. For the people of Argentina to put him at the same level as Diego Maradona Messi will need to win the World Cup.
"Then they will finally say 'we had Diego Maradona but we have Messi now.'"
Messi has registered 96 goals in 171 appearances for Argentina, as well as recording 55 assists. The former Barcelona man won the Copa America last year, but is desperate to end his career having won the ultimate prize.
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