Lionel Messi is obsessed with Stephen Curry and sees a lot of himself in the NBA star
The world's best soccer player has a man-crush on the world's best basketball player.
Lionel Messi, Barcelona's five-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner, told Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl on Wednesday that when he arrives stateside for this summer's Copa América, he has two primary objectives: win the tournament for Argentina, and meet Stephen Curry.
Luckily for Messi, Argentina's opening game of the tournament (against Chile on June 6) will be just down the road from Oracle Arena, in Santa Clara.
"Soccer will be the main focus while I'm in the Bay Area, naturally, but part of me is also hoping to meet Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors," Messi said. "Seeing him play is magical. Everyone loves what he does: basketball fans, teammates, rivals."
It's not hard to understand Messi's fondness for the NBA's two-time reigning MVP. Countless comparisons have been made between the Warriors' three-point machine and Barcelona's left-footed goal-scorer. Indeed, Messi himself sees similarities between their games.
"Our small sizes, and even our playing styles, are similar. In December he sent me his signed Warriors jersey. I sent back my signed shirt in April to return the favor," Messi added.