Writers 
Argentina defender Cristian “Cuti” Romero has paid tribute to Lionel Messi, describing his national-team captain as the greatest footballer of all time and saying Argentina will never see another player quite like him.
Romero’s comments underline the enormous influence Messi has had on Argentina’s current generation of players. Having shared the dressing room with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Romero has experienced first-hand the standards and mentality that have helped define Messi’s remarkable career.
“We are never going to have another player like Leo Messi. He’s the greatest of all time,” Romero said, highlighting the unique qualities that have separated Messi from other players throughout his career.
For Romero, Messi’s importance extends beyond his performances on the pitch. The Tottenham Hotspur defender also spoke about watching Messi develop as a footballer from a young age and eventually becoming one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport.
“We watched him grow up from when we were very young, we saw him, but he always taught us to get back up again,” Romero said. His words suggest that Messi’s influence has come not only through his goals, assists and trophies, but also through the way he has responded to setbacks.
Messi’s journey with Argentina was not always straightforward. Before finally winning major international honours, he experienced several painful defeats with the national team, including losses in major finals. Those disappointments were followed by a remarkable period of success.
Argentina eventually won the 2021 Copa América, giving Messi his first major senior international trophy with the country. That success was followed by victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Messi played a central role as Argentina lifted the trophy for the first time since 1986.
The triumph in Qatar became one of the defining moments of Messi’s career. It also changed the perception of his international career after years of debate about whether his achievements with Barcelona could be matched at national-team level.
Romero has been part of Argentina’s successful generation alongside Messi. The defender became an important member of the national team during its recent period of success, providing defensive strength while Messi and other attacking players supplied the creativity and goals.
The Tottenham defender also described Messi as a role model and an example for younger players. That description reflects the respect Messi commands inside the Argentina dressing room, where younger footballers have had the opportunity to learn directly from a player who has spent more than a decade performing at the highest level.
Messi’s influence has also extended beyond individual performances. His leadership during Argentina’s successful campaigns helped create a strong connection between the team’s experienced players and younger members of the squad.
For Romero, however, Messi’s greatest lesson appears to be his ability to respond to adversity. The defender pointed specifically to the way Messi encouraged those around him to keep fighting and recover from difficult moments.
As Messi’s international career approaches its later stages, tributes from teammates such as Romero highlight the legacy he has already established. Regardless of future achievements, his impact on Argentine football and the players who shared the journey with him is likely to remain significant.
Romero’s message is ultimately about more than statistics or trophies. To him, Messi represents a generation-defining figure whose talent, resilience and example have influenced the players fortunate enough to play alongside him.
With Messi continuing to represent Argentina, every appearance carries additional significance for supporters and teammates. For Romero, there is little doubt about the place Messi holds in football history: he believes the world will never see another player quite like him.
