Guardiola named the six great ‘eternal’ players in football history

Known for his skill in developing players, Guardiola’s impact is well illustrated by Raheem Sterling’s transformation at City. Under Guardiola’s guidance in 292 games, Sterling scored 120 goals and provided 65 assists.

Sterling’s goal-scoring ability was questioned prior to Guardiola’s mentorship.

In his career, Guardiola has not only helped players improve but has also managed elite talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Thierry Henry, and Erling Haaland.

Yet, when naming his ‘top six’ players, he selected five ‘eternal’ figures alongside Messi, with none of his current Man City players making the cut.

“I never pretend to be Pele, honestly,” said Guardiola in a press conference following the Brazilian’s death in 2022.

“I never saw him play, I spoke with people who said he was the greatest for them.

“What he has done, not just winning three World Cups, the goals and he was a new thing when he came up.”

Pele spent over two decades at Brazil-based team Santos before spending two years at the New York Cosmos. But he was best known for his impeccable displays that helped Brazil win the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups.

“I was not born when he was playing. It’s like a good movie, the legacy that we’re still talking about him, about a good movie, a good book, because he was so good.”

“Pele, [Diego] Maradona, [Johan] Cruyff, [Lionel] Messi, [Franz] Beckenbauer, Cristiano Ronaldo, these players will be eternal,” he added.

Ronaldo and Guardiola have never worked together, though the Portuguese star was strongly linked to a transfer to Guardiola’s Manchester City in 2021. Ronaldo later revealed in a 2022 interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored that the move was “close” to happening.

Maradona and Beckenbauer, meanwhile, were both exceptional players who would likely shine in any era, including today’s game.

Although Guardiola never had the chance to coach either, he and Beckenbauer may have interacted at Bayern, where the German legend served as honorary president during Guardiola’s time there.

Like Guardiola with Messi, Johan Cruyff’s legacy at Barcelona was immense, both as a player and a coach. In fact, Cruyff gave Guardiola his debut at the club in 1990.

“They have done many things for many years, these types of players make our business, our job, a better place,” the 53-year-old added.

“What he produced for the feeling for the people.

“We have seen the World Cup, one team can produce for a country, it’s incredible. It’s not another event can produce this emotion. This part of exceptional players can produce the emotion for the players.”