Kobe Bryant spoke about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in his last interview before his tragic death

It’s hard to believe that NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who was considered by many to be the best basketball player of all time and was often compared with Michael Jordan as one of the greatest of all time, is gone.

Bryant, 41, was one of nine people on the helicopter when it plummeted to the ground in Calabasas, 65 kilometers west of Los Angeles, and burst into flames.

Bryant’s oldest daughter Gianna, 13, was reportedly among those who died.

In one of his final interviews before his tragic death, Lakers legend Kobe Bryant revealed his thoughts about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In his final interview with CNN, Kobe revealed his thoughts about two of the greatest soccer players of all time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zMrzTC6nU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Speaking about Messi with whom he developed a friendship several years ago, Kobe said that to this day he is astonished by the Argentine’s talents.

“Well, I think he’s one of the best athletes of all time. The tenacity, the intelligence with which he plays as well as skill puts him head and shoulder above the rest,” Bryant said about Messi.

The five-time NBA champions also heaped praise on Cristiano and said that he is of the same breadth as Messi.

“And Cristiano (Ronaldo) is right there with him,” Bryant added.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7zQaZpAi82/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Messi and Bryant’s friendship started when Ronaldinho introduced them to one another. Bryant in an interview with ESPN had recalled how Ronaldinho described the young Argentine, then a teen as the future GOAT of football.

“I think Messi must have been 18 at the time, 17 maybe. Ronaldinho called him over and said, ‘Kobe, I want you to meet the player who is going to be the greatest player who ever lived’,” Bryant recalled.

Since their meeting, Kobe and Messi had developed a special rapport between themselves and after the former’s retirement in 2016, the Barcelona ace even wished his friend “all the best” on his official social media account as the legend approaches life after basketball.

“[Bryant] will always be in the history books as one of the greatest. It was he who helped me become interested in basketball. All the best in the next stage of your life, Kobe,” Messi wrote.