On the program he participated in, Henry discussed the topic of Messi with Ferdinand. Henry said he always wonders why everyone constantly compares Messi and Ronaldo. Everyone should simply appreciate them, and everyone will be sad when the two retire.

Ferdinand: When you work with a player like Messi, do you and your teammates approach things differently? Let me give you an example: when Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or during his time at Manchester United, we were able to let him play freely because you knew he could make an enormous difference for the team when he got the ball and help the team win. Was it the same with Messi at Barcelona?

Henry: Messi showed us his ability, this is no joke. You can see his performance in training, how he takes care of his body. One thing that bothers me is: people always talk about how great he is, but what more can we say?

Ferdinand: What do you mean?

Henry: Have you seen his physique? He looks extremely strong, that's what I'm trying to say. People always talk about talent and hard work, and they train a lot. He treats football like life, which is why he's so good—as if he's possessed by football. So when you enter the dressing room and see a guy who can score four goals in half a match, you're going to give everything for him. Yes, you can help us win, of course I'll give everything for you. If you're not someone who can decide the outcome of the game, I won't give everything for you.

Ferdinand: We've seen many players who were excellent strikers for years. They're obsessed with statistics: goals, assists, all kinds of numbers. But I've never heard Messi talk about that. Yet it's certainly impossible to score so many goals and remain consistently efficient without caring about statistics and various data. So does he pay attention to these things?

Henry: Exactly, he doesn't talk about these things; he lets his left foot do the talking. You'll never hear Messi say he's the best, absolutely not. Like practicing free kicks—I think it was in my second year at Barcelona—he was practicing free kicks, and his free kicks weren't very good back then, like most people when they start practicing free kicks. So at the time, I thought he might never master that technique (laughs). Obviously I'm joking, but my point is that even for the best, repetitive practice is fundamental. That's something many people don't understand. Yes, he's talented, but you have to work hard. This guy practices day after day, and even now, most of those free kicks are either saved by the goalkeeper, go in, hit the crossbar, or hit the post. Because everyone is talking about free kicks, discussing how many times he hit the target, how many he scored, how many he attempted. That's what it takes to reach the highest level.

That's why, for me, people like him and Ronaldo have more than just football—their achievements can't be reflected in numbers. The reason they can maintain such a high standard is because they work their own way. That's why sometimes when people ask me who is the best or not the best, I wonder why we try to compare two great players? Let's just appreciate them. Because when they retire, we'll all be sad. Ronaldo needs Messi, and Messi needs Ronaldo.

Ferdinand: I completely agree with that. I think all great athletes, regardless of the sport—whether tennis, F1, or anything else—need another great athlete to compete with. That's a fact. You can see that Ronaldo frequently vents his emotions, right? You spent a lot of time with Messi. Did you get that same feeling?

Henry: Of course. Even when he's not near you, his aura is very strong. He just wants to do his thing. He scored four goals and was already thinking about the fifth and sixth...

Ferdinand: If he doesn't score, does he get angry in the dressing room?

Henry: Yes, he also gets angry when he does score. I always wonder why people find fault so easily. They want to talk about something. I interacted with Bruno Fernandes on the program before, and when we won, I saw Bruno Fernandes stand up to the others. It's the same with Messi and Ronaldo. These people think differently, act differently, and always pursue perfection, which is impossible, but that's what they want to achieve. If you don't understand what's happening, I always say: don't try to understand a genius, just appreciate them.

Traduzido por IA.

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