Guardiola praises Haaland but declares Messi is most complete forward ever

Pep Guardiola has hailed Lionel Messi as the most complete center-forward in football history, downplaying question about Erling Haaland.

Speaking to a reporter from beIN Sports, Guardiola made it clear that despite Haaland’s incredible form, Messi remains unmatched.

“The most complete centre forward ever seen is Lionel Messi,” Guardiola responded after he was asked if Haaland was the best centre-forward to ever play the game.

The comments came after Haaland’s stunning hat-trick in City’s 4-1 comeback win against Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town.

Ipswich shocked the champions with an early goal from Sammie Szmodics, but Haaland quickly equalized with a penalty just five minutes later.

He then added another goal, followed by a strike from Kevin De Bruyne to make it 3-1 before halftime.

Haaland sealed the win late in the game, completing his first hat-trick of the season, keeping City’s position at the top of the table.

Despite this, Guardiola was quick to temper the excitement around Haaland, stating that while the Norwegian can be compared to greats like Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, Messi stands alone as the best to ever play the game.

City’s win over Ipswich keeps them on track in their title defense, maintaining a perfect start to the season.