At age 31, in 1981, I was voted the best player in…

In 1981, at age 31, I was voted the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player in the league.

— Julius Erving

I was a soccer player. Basketball wasn't my thing.

— Pascal Siakam

It's better to have a good player with the basketball in late game situations than to have plays.

— Rick Pitino

Who's to say because you're just a basketball player, or you are a basketball player, who's to say you can't chime in on other…

— Jaylen Brown

Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.

— Johan Cruijff

I have the possibility to watch Messi in training each morning, and because of what he demonstrates he is the best player in the…

— Thierry Henry

Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership has to be Paul Scholes. He knows how to do everything, and he is the…

— Thierry Henry

Messi on the World Cup 2014? He showed why he is the best player in the world. It was a pleasure to see him play.

— Alessandro Del Piero

Messi is the best player in the world. If he's not already, he'll be the best footballer of all time.

— LeBron James

We're not great friends, but I admire him. If he thinks he's the best player of the century, that's his problem.

— Pele

Messi doesn't have to do it in the Premier League to prove himself. The Champions League is the ultimate club competition. If he was…

— Gary Lineker

Lionel Messi is the best player ever.

— Graeme Souness

The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We [Arsenal] played against Milan in the European Supercup [in 1995]. Maldini marked me…

— Paul Merson

I don't work this hard just to be the best player. I do it to win.

— Holly McPeak

I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…

— Alex Ferguson