According to Sportbible, England midfielder Declan Rice has openly expressed his admiration for Lionel Messi’s exceptional performances at the ongoing World Cup, describing the Argentine captain’s current form as “special” and “incredible.” Rice made the comments during a pre-match press conference as England prepared for their final group-stage fixture against Ghana.
Messi’s record-breaking tournament
As reported by Sportbible, Messi, 38, has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, leading the scoring charts with five goals from Argentina’s opening two group-stage matches.
His impressive tally includes:
- A hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria on June 17.
- A brace in the 2-0 win over Ralf Rangnick’s Austria on June 22.
According to Sportbible, those goals have helped Messi become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals, moving past Miroslav Klose’s previous record. Following Argentina’s win over Austria, Rangnick praised the Argentine superstar, saying: “He is an extraordinary and sensational player, as well as one of the best in history. It is obvious that Argentina is much more than just him, but he is the leader of a group of great players.”
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Balancing admiration with loyalty
Speaking to reporters, as quoted by Sportbible, Rice was quick to stress his admiration for both Messi and England captain Harry Kane.
“For me, obviously, I’m going to say my captain, Harry Kane. It’s inevitable what he does in an England shirt. We’re very lucky to have him. He’s our captain,” Rice said.
“On the other hand, you also have to mention what Messi is doing at a World Cup. I think it’s very special that we’re witnessing this. What he’s doing at his age is incredible.”
Rice also told Sportbible that Messi’s performances transcend national allegiances.
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“Even as a neutral, as a football fan and lover of the game as well as a football player, it’s incredible to watch him,” he added.
The England midfielder also described playing alongside Kane as “an honour” and an experience he would one day tell his children about.
As highlighted by Sportbible, Messi’s remarkable World Cup campaign continues to attract praise from across the football world, with Rice becoming the latest high-profile player to salute the Argentine icon’s achievements.
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