Jose Angel “Cote” faced some of football’s best during a career that took him from Sporting Gijón to Roma, Porto, Real Sociedad, Villarreal, Eibar, and Osasuna, yet in his view only one opponent was beyond defending.
Former Spanish U-21 player identified that name instantly after receiving the Peña Isma award.
“One, one. As everyone knows, it’s (Argentine star Lionel Messi),” Cote said. [via AS]
“The rest were just earthbound (laughs). He was above them.”
Cote explained why Messi created problems no other forward could.
“I have a hard time thinking about others.”
“They all gave you work, that’s clear. But the one who was impossible (to cover) was Messi.”
“Because of the way he positioned himself on the field, where he stood. Then he’d take the ball, dribble past you… Messi was impossible to cover.”
His words are backed up by the numbers, Messi has scored 672 goals to go with 302 assists in 778 games which showed Rosario native’s dominance at the Spanish city.
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At international level he has 114 goals in 194 games for Argentina, he won the Copa America in 2021, 2024 and the World Cup in 2022.
No other player in history has won eight Ballon d’Or, that’s why defenders like Cote remember him as a unique challenge.
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