Declan Rice is getting lots of attention for what he said about Lionel Messi during a press conference.
Before England’s big game against Ghana, Declan Rice shared his excitement and admiration for the amazing Lionel Messi and what he’s doing at the World Cup.
Messi has had a fantastic start to the tournament, currently leading as the top scorer with five goals in Argentina’s first two group games against Algeria and Austria. The 38-year-old scored three goals in their 3-0 win over Algeria on June 17, and then added two more against Ralf Rangnick’s team on June 22.
After the match, Rangnick said, “He is an extraordinary player and one of the best ever. Argentina is more than just him, but he’s the leader of a great group of players.”
Messi’s latest goals made him the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 18 goals, beating Germany’s Miroslav Klose by two.
When asked about the most important player at this summer’s tournament, Rice praised his England captain, Harry Kane, but also gave a special shoutout to Messi.
“For me, it’s got to be my captain, Harry Kane. He does amazing things for England, and we’re lucky to have him,” Rice said. “But you also have to talk about what Messi is doing. It’s really special to watch, especially at his age.”
Rice added, “Even if you’re just a fan, it’s incredible to see him play.”
Rice was also asked about his relationship with Harry Kane. He said, “When you get older, you’ll tell your kids you played with Harry Kane. That shows how good he is. I’m lucky to have him as our captain, and he leads by example every day. It’s no surprise how great he is, with the goals he scores in training and what he’s done at Bayern Munich and for England.”
The Arsenal midfielder finished by saying, “It’s truly been an honor to play alongside him.”