Following Messi’s stellar performance against Real Valladolid on Tuesday, his international compatriot is still not convinced the La Masia graduate is the best in the world.
Messi has won every trophy with the Blaugrana including 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions Leagues, 6 Copa del Reys.
On a personal level, the 32-year-old has won a record five Ballon d’Ors alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring 608 goals and recording 247 assists in just 695 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions in his career.
The Argentine has also won La Liga and Champions League Golden Boot awards five and six times respectively.
In an interview on El Chiringuito de Jugones TV show, the 75-year-old said Messi is just another average player, if he does not move away from his comfort zone.
“It seems as if I am anti-Argentine, but until Messi performs in the big games, he will continue to be a player of home games,” Gatti said
“He has to have balls to go to Real Madrid and prove everything there like Cristiano [Ronaldo did]. Otherwise he will be just one more [player].
“Cristiano went to the best club in the world. Messi plays at home, on his pitch with everything [that comes with that in terms of home comforts].
“Let him perform in the Champions League and the World Cup, otherwise he will always be one more [player]. When he performs there, he will fight with [Johan] Cruyff, [Diego] Maradona and Pele.
“Messi performs when they let him perform. It’s very easy to perform with everything in your favour at home.”
