Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Copa America, Argentina, Basketball, NBA, Football
Ben McCrum
Topics: Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Copa America, Argentina, Basketball, NBA, Football
Lionel Messi is undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes of all time, but there is one other sportsperson that he would like to meet.
The Copa America gets underway on 20th June as the United States of America host the tournament across 14 cities.
Defending champions Argentina face Canada in the opening fixture of the tournament, which takes place over four weeks.
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Argentina head into the tournaments as favourites to lift the trophy, ahead of Brazil and Uruguay.
Ahead of the tournament, Argentinian captain Messi has been speaking with the media and has revealed the only sportsperson he still hopes to meet.
Speaking with ESPN Argentina, Messi said: “From the sports world, I would like to have a photo with Jordan - meet him and have a photo with him.”
Like Messi, Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest of all time in his sport.
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The former basketball superstar has won six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships with the Chicago Bulls, making him unbeaten in two three-peats from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998.
Not only is Jordan unbeaten in the NBA finals, but he has won the MVP award in each one he played in.
Jordan has also achieved success with his national team, winning gold medals for the USA in both the 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games.
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Of course, Messi has enjoyed similar levels of success, with ten La Liga trophies, four Champions Leagues and a record eight Ballon d’Or titles.
Internationally, he won the Copa America in 2020 and the World Cup in 2022.
And it’s not the first time that the 36-year-old has expressed an interest in basketball, having previously spoken about his admiration of other notable players like Steph Curry and LeBron James, who he met at an Inter Miami match last July.
Since moving to America after joining Inter Miami, the MLS club owned by England legend David Beckham, Messi has immersed himself in the world of US sports and is regularly seen attending matches in both the NBA and the National Football League.