Michael Jordan has been sent a loose request by Lionel Messi, as the Argentina captain wants to take a photo with the basketball icon and current NASCAR team owner

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is one of the most recognisable athletes in the world and also a major celebrity, but somehow he’s never crossed paths with NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Messi has unsurprisingly shared the stage with most major football players, he recently met Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and has spent time with Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has achieved everything in football, and is living a lavish life in Miami, but there’s still one thing he craves – meeting Jordan.

Ahead of Copa America which is being held in the United States, Messi was asked which sportsperson he’d most like to meet. “From the sports world, I would like to have a photo with [Michael] Jordan – meet him and have a photo with him,” Messi told ESPN Argentina.

Cristiano Ronaldo has already completed Messi’s dream, as he bumped into Jordan while on holiday back in 2019. The current Al-Nassr striker was playing for Juventus at the time, and shared a photo with the six-time NBA champion on Instagram.

Just like the constant comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo, with football fans debating who is the greatest player of all-time, the same type of argument takes place in the NBA. In the world of basketball, fans constantly clash when proposing arguments for Jordan or LeBron James.

Former USA defender Jimmy Conrad believes that Ronaldo is similar to Jordan due to his career path. “Cristiano Ronaldo officially entered his ‘Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards’ stage. It will never be the same again,” Conrad posted on Twitter.

Conrad was referencing the ugly ending to Ronaldo’s second stint with Manchester United, and made the comparison a month before he signed for Al-Nassr. Messi has also left Europe after signing for MLS side Miami, but after winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, he’s compared to LeBron as he’s still performing at the elite level despite his age.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has already met and had a photo with Michael Jordan
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Messi will look to win Copa America this summer, adding another international trophy to his collection. Should Argentina reach the final it will be played in Miami where Messi currently resides, making for a memorable moment.

The 36-year-old has admitted that his days representing Argentina are numbered, and he rejected the opportunity to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer. “It would be two, three straight months of not being with the club (Inter Miami), and more than anything I’m not at an age to be in everything,” Messi said.

“I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two straight tournaments. I’ve been very lucky to play in the Olympics, and to win it. It was a wonderful experience on a football level. Olympics, U20, memories I’ll never forget.

“It’s spectacular to be fortunate enough to go through all that. I hope that the guys who get to go enjoy it in the same way that I did because it’s special. The Olympics are special, different from anything else.”