In a special letter to fellow sports legend Lionel Messi, Roger Federer discussed the Argentine’s influence on sports and future generations.

In TIME Magazine, Roger Federer extolled soccer phenom Lionel Messi. A list of the publication’s 100 Most Influential People for 2023 may be seen in the most recent edition.

The tennis legend paid homage to the Inter Miami player in the list’s “Titan” section, which also includes the World Cup winner. He realized the pressure professional athletes face every day as a result of this realization. “What I find remarkable about Messi is how consistently outstanding he has been for so many years. The Swiss Maestro observed, “This is very tough to achieve and then maintain.

“He passes with angular precision, and he dribbles like a magician. It’s hard to comprehend how aware and prepared he is. My professional career is about to end. I’ve come to understand how much weight athletes bear. But we aren’t even aware of it in our daily lives. That burden probably feels even heavier for Messi because he represents both a highly regarded team and a nation that is extremely passionate about football.

“Argentina’s World Cup triumph was outstanding. An incredible sporting event that was seen all around the world had millions of supporters taking to the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate. Even non-football fans must be aware of the genuine significance of the most played sport in the world.

Many people believe that Messi is the best football player who has ever lived. During his nearly two-decade career, he has won every major award in the game. Similar to Federer in tennis, the Argentine raised the bar for soccer and did so with a grace and beauty that had never been seen before.

The eight-time Wimbledon winner, who announced his retirement from competitive tennis at the 2022 Laver Cup, concluded his speech by calling Messi a source of motivation and an example for young people. “Messi can motivate upcoming generations. I can only hope that we get to enjoy his exceptional talent and imagination for a little while longer,” Federer continued.

Don’t look away too frequently as Messi plays on the field. You might miss the guy of the hour saying something very amazing. Leo, thank you. Many people are unsure of Messi’s future as he continues to enjoy the final years of his spectacular career.

But despite a brilliant start to life as an Inter Miami player, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner doesn’t seem to be thinking about retiring. For the MLS squad, he has scored 11 goals in just 11 games, and when they overcame Nashville on penalties to win the Leagues Cup, he contributed to their first championship.

Messi, who is now on international duty, observed Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifying match from the sidelines. He wasn’t listed as a substitute but sat on the bench and saw the squad win. After scoring the lone goal in Wednesday’s victory over Ecuador, the national team captain complained of being exhausted and was given a day off.

Following the game, coach Lionel Scaloni stated, “Leo was not ready to play.” He made an effort to feel better, but he was uncomfortable. As the team attempts to move up the Eastern Conference and make a late push for the playoffs, Inter Miami supporters are hoping that Messi will be healthy enough to play in the team’s upcoming match against Atlanta United on Sunday.