Joan Laporta, the Barcelona football club president has created a new controversy to football fans when he named the greatest player of all time as not Lionel Messi but Johan Cruyff. His statement has split opinion very fast, with Barcelona fans being a divisive group. In a speech at an event to honor Cruyff on the 10th anniversary of his death, Laporta commended the Dutch star because of his contribution to the sport. He outlined Cruyff not as a player only.
He emphasized that he contributed to the development of Barcelona philosophy and identity. The legacy of Cruyff at Barcelona can not be disputed. He had made an impact in his playing career in the 1970s. This system later became the one that transformed the club when he was a manager. His thoughts influenced the modern football tactics. Today, such coaches as Pep Guardiola adhere to his vision. But this is not an unintentional decision on the part of Laporta.
Most of the fans thought he would appoint Lionel Messi, who was generally regarded as the greatest in the history of Barcelona. Messi has many supporters by virtue of his records, trophies and as well as his loyalty to the club. The response over the internet has been fierce. The comments of Laporta are regarded by some fans as a slight against Messi. The others think that the president was merely celebrating the legacy of Cruyff in the sport in general. The context also matters.
The relationship between Laporta and Messi has been a very difficult one over the last few years. The fact that Messi left Barcelona emotionally in 2021 has been a sensitive issue among fans since then. In a different perspective, the statement made by Laporta can be seen in a deeper vision.
