Lionel Messi snubbed by Mauricio Pochettino as ex-PSG boss names best player he managed

For many, Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer who ever lived. But for Mauricio Pochettino, the World Cup-winning, Ballon d'Or-hoovering, wonder goal-normalising Argentine isn't even the greatest player he's ever coached.

Granted, Pochettino only managed Messi for a single season - a campaign in which the Barcelona legend scored just six league goals. Still, the snub is a real eyebrow-raiser, especially when you hear who he picked instead.

"Marco Verratti is the best player I have ever seen in my life," Pochettino told Goal. The 53-year-old managed both Verratti and Messi during his brief tenure at PSG.

He took charge mid-way through the 2020/21 season, and though PSG were pipped to the Ligue 1 title by Lille that year, they reclaimed their crown in 2021/22, securing what was Pochettino's first major managerial honour.

Verratti, who made over 400 appearances for PSG, was a key part of Pochettino's team, but the true stars of that squad were Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Admittedly, the trio were more frightening on paper than they were in practice during their short stint together in Paris, but Pochettino had nothing but praise for them.

When asked to sum up some of the best players he'd ever coached in a single word, Pochettino described Messi as a "genius," Mbappe as a "killer," and Neymar as a "magician". He also labelled Thiago Silva a "leader", while for Harry Kane, his response was "top scorer".

Pochettino was appointed head coach of the USA national team in September, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be part-hosted in the States. After making a positive start by winning five of his first six games in charge, defeats to Panama and Canada in the Nations League this month have put Pochettino under pressure.

The Argentine left Chelsea by mutual consent at the end of last season after guiding the Blues to a fifth place finish. He lasted just one year at Stamford Bridge, with Enzo Maresca stepping in as his replacement last summer.

It was his third stint as a manager in the Premier League, having also enjoyed spells at Tottenham and Southampton. At Spurs, Pochettino led the club to their first ever Champions League final, and established them as regular challengers for major honours for the first time in the Premier League era.

He recently admitted he'd be "like to come back" to Tottenham, fuelling speculation over a possible return, particularly with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou's long-term future in doubt. "When I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham," he told Sky Sports last week.

"I am in the USA, so I am not going to talk about that now - but what I said then I still, after six years or five years, feel in my heart. Yes, I would like one day to come back."

Pochettino insisted he retains a "very good relationship" with Daniel Levy despite being sacked by the Spurs chairman. "It's true after nearly six years with all that we lived together, it was tough because of all the ups and downs and emotional things that we lived," he said.

"We split very well. One thing was professional, another personal and now, like the day after we left Tottenham, we always have a very, very good relationship."

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