---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Messi is a genius. He has everything…"
description: "\"Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/franz-beckenbauer-15378_clever_messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when_2616042.png"
---

#  Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I…

![“Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona's.” quote by Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/franz-beckenbauer-15378_clever_messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when_2616042.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/franz-beckenbauer-15378_clever_messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when_2616042.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/franz-beckenbauer-15378_clever_messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when_2616042.png)

> “Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona's.”

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Messi’s skill, intelligence, and left‑foot mastery liken him to a modern Maradona, emphasizing his all‑round brilliance.

**In simple terms:** Messi is a modern football genius.

Key Takeaway

Study his techniques.

Themes

sports talent comparison

Mood

admiring enthusiastic

Type

sports biographical

When to use this quote

- history
- media
- culture

Key Concepts

football skill development analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes Messi unique beyond skill?
- How does his style influence younger players?

A Different Perspective

Even geniuses have limits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/)

## Related quotes

> [My initials are D.M., just like Diego Maradona. And just like him, I want to be remembered by the people of Naples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dries-mertens/my-initials-are-d-m-just-like-diego-maradona-and-just-like-him-i-want/)

[Dries Mertens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dries-mertens/)

> [He has been named as the heir apparent of the great Argentine hero, Diego Maradona, by journalists, players, and Maradona himself, alike. I'd personally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/he-has-been-named-as-the-heir-apparent-of-the-great-argentine-hero/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [As a boy, I wanted to be the Peruvian Diego Maradona. Sadly, Peru hasnt made the World Cup since 1982, so I guess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-alarcon/as-a-boy-i-wanted-to-be-the-peruvian-diego-maradona-sadly-peru-hasnt/)

[Daniel Alarcon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-alarcon/)

> [It's not that difficult to play well and win titles in a team like Barcelona, but it's in the national side where you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-becker/it-s-not-that-difficult-to-play-well-and-win-titles-in-a-team-like/)

[Boris Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-becker/)

> [Only two players made me cry when watching football, one was Diego Maradona and the other Ryan Giggs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-del-piero/only-two-players-made-me-cry-when-watching-football-one-was-diego/)

[Alessandro Del Piero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-del-piero/)

> [He is an exceptional talent. I still think Diego Maradona is the best player I have ever seen but Messi is closing in fast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ander-herrera/he-is-an-exceptional-talent-i-still-think-diego-maradona-is-the-best/)

[Ander Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ander-herrera/)

> [I had my footballing heroes such as Bryan Robson and Diego Maradona but my dad was a rugby league star, and he was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-giggs/i-had-my-footballing-heroes-such-as-bryan-robson-and-diego-maradona/)

[Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-giggs/)

> [I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-maradona/i-have-seen-the-player-who-will-inherit-my-place-in-argentine/)

[Diego Maradona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-maradona/)

> [Every day, you get to train with players like Diego Costa, and Eden Hazard is another lesson for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-abraham/every-day-you-get-to-train-with-players-like-diego-costa-and-eden/)

[Tammy Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-abraham/)

> [Personally, I always think that players like Diego Forlan are fantastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-klose/personally-i-always-think-that-players-like-diego-forlan-are-fantastic/)

[Miroslav Klose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-klose/)

> [We have a psychologist at Chelsea who goes around seeing the loan players. He said every top, top player has a dark side. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bamford/we-have-a-psychologist-at-chelsea-who-goes-around-seeing-the-loan/)

[Patrick Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bamford/)

> [My earliest memories of football were watching and being taught about the legends. Hearing about the likes of Diego Maradona and Pele and watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bugzy-malone/my-earliest-memories-of-football-were-watching-and-being-taught-about/)

[Bugzy Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bugzy-malone/)

> [“ANDRES INIESTA - SPAIN   (No matter what they say six is better than seven)   5. DAVID BECKHAM - ENGLAND   (High five!)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trost/andres-iniesta-spain-no-matter-what-they-say-six-is-better-than-seven/)

Alex Trost

> [One of my favourite sportsmen was Diego Maradona and every time I saw him play football you could see the passion in the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/one-of-my-favourite-sportsmen-was-diego-maradona-and-every-time-i-saw/)

[Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/)

> [I think Cristiano and Lionel Messi are two of the best players in the history of the game. Are they better than Pele or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul/i-think-cristiano-and-lionel-messi-are-two-of-the-best-players-in-the/)

[Raul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul/)

## More by Franz Beckenbauer

> [George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/george-best-was-one-of-the-most-talented-players-of-all-time-and/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [The trouble for today's footballers is they have too many distractions. We used to get our old players coming to watch training with football…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/the-trouble-for-today-s-footballers-is-they-have-too-many/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [It is not the strong one that wins, the one that wins is strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/it-is-not-the-strong-one-that-wins-the-one-that-wins-is-strong/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [He has been named as the heir apparent of the great Argentine hero, Diego Maradona, by journalists, players, and Maradona himself, alike. I'd personally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/he-has-been-named-as-the-heir-apparent-of-the-great-argentine-hero/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [We should not compare humans to God, but Messi is a godly player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/we-should-not-compare-humans-to-god-but-messi-is-a-godly-player/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [I kept my speeches short as captain. I focused on the key points of the opposition of the day. As coach, I was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/i-kept-my-speeches-short-as-captain-i-focused-on-the-key-points-of/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [At least six Bayern players, who have won almost everything, are in the national squad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/at-least-six-bayern-players-who-have-won-almost-everything-are-in-the/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [We should not fool ourselves. We are not one of the world's top teams any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/we-should-not-fool-ourselves-we-are-not-one-of-the-world-s-top-teams/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [Germany needs to have a handicap, like in golf. They ought to start each match with two goals in advance to their opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/germany-needs-to-have-a-handicap-like-in-golf-they-ought-to-start/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [There's only one possibility: win, draw or loose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/there-s-only-one-possibility-win-draw-or-loose/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [It would make me a lot happier if I could meet up again next year with as many friends as possible from all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/it-would-make-me-a-lot-happier-if-i-could-meet-up-again-next-year/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [In the World Cup, much depends for every team on how it develops during the tournament. There are always rising tensions. They come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/in-the-world-cup-much-depends-for-every-team-on-how-it-develops/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [If a Middle Eastern sheikh comes to buy Bayern Munich, he could buy 49 per cent. Fifty-one per cent must stay in Germany with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/if-a-middle-eastern-sheikh-comes-to-buy-bayern-munich-he-could-buy-49/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [No one wanted to fall back behind so both teams wated for a mistake from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/no-one-wanted-to-fall-back-behind-so-both-teams-wated-for-a-mistake/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

> [Real Madrid is a legendary team that stands above all others and is the target of all players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/real-madrid-is-a-legendary-team-that-stands-above-all-others-and-is/)

[Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

[Explore all 43 Franz Beckenbauer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/)

## More Clever quotes

> [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

> [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“There was once an old but clever donkey, who never liked the sting of any bee, Nor for all the Slung mud, did he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyavrat-thareja/there-was-once-an-old-but-clever-donkey-who-never-liked-the-sting-of/)

[Priyavrat Thareja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyavrat-thareja/)

> [ There was another reason \[she\] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-books-whenever-they-went-away/)

[Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/)

> [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [If she is stupid enough to let you go, you're clever enough not to look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-she-is-stupid-enough-to-let-you-go-you-re-clever-enough-not-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Need to go to the pharmacy, because I'm so sick!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-matthews/need-to-go-to-the-pharmacy-because-i-m-so-sick/)

Tasha Matthews

> [My valour is certainly going! - it is sneaking off! - I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/my-valour-is-certainly-going-it-is-sneaking-off-i-feel-it-oozing-out/)

[Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/)

> ['I Love You' fails to sum up all the memories, smiles, laughs, trials, and tribulations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/i-love-you-fails-to-sum-up-all-the-memories-smiles-laughs-trials-and/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [People may say that what I do is very clever, but it's not really at all. It's not Swift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-bremner/people-may-say-that-what-i-do-is-very-clever-but-it-s-not-really-at/)

[Rory Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-bremner/)

> [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/)

[Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/)

> [“Regrets are like mistresses," he informed her. "I ..." Her hand dropped from the handle. "What?" "Good men don't have them." She blinked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-johnson/regrets-are-like-mistresses-he-informed-her-i-her-hand-dropped-from/)

[Alissa Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-johnson/)

> [I love clever lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-hayes/i-love-clever-lyrics/)

[Walker Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-hayes/)

[Browse all 2,116 Clever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very clever and his left foot is like Diego Maradona's.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Franz Beckenbauer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when-i-watch-him-i-see-a-player/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clever"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when-i-watch-him-i-see-a-player/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/franz-beckenbauer-15378_clever_messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when_2616042.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/franz-beckenbauer-15378_clever_messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when_2616042.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c7/franz-beckenbauer-15378_clever_messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when_2616042.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Messi is a genius. He has everything. When I watch him, I see a player who is very, very, skilful, very…” — Franz Beckenbauer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Franz Beckenbauer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Messi is a genius. He has...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when-i-watch-him-i-see-a-player/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/messi-is-a-genius-he-has-everything-when-i-watch-him-i-see-a-player/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
