Solskjaer's Exclusive List: Messi and Maradona as Football's Ultimate Individual Talents

In a recent interview that sent ripples through the football world, former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a stunning revelation about the two players he believes could literally play "without a team." The Norwegian tactician, who recently ended his three-year managerial hiatus by taking charge of Besiktas in January 2025, shared his unique perspective on football greatness during a press conference ahead of his team's latest match.

Solskjaer's comments came while he was praising his current star player Sem Steijn, who has been in sensational form under the Norwegian's guidance this season. "Of course, when you have players like Sem Steijn who has scored 18 or 20 goals this season, he's impressive," Solskjaer acknowledged. "But it's a team collective with lots of movement. It's a team collective." This emphasis on teamwork made his subsequent individualistic assessment of football legends even more striking.

The Exclusive Duo: Messi and Maradona

What truly captured attention was Solskjaer's declaration that only two players in football history possessed such extraordinary individual talent that they could essentially play without teammates. The Besiktas manager named Argentine icons Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona as the sole members of this exclusive club. According to Solskjaer, these two maestros made football look so effortless that their genius transcended the need for team support systems.

🔥 Lionel Messi: The Living Legend

• Made his Barcelona debut in November 2003

• Played 778 games in Spanish football

• Currently with Inter Miami in his career's twilight

• Known for low center of gravity and mesmerizing dribbling

• Goal-scoring records that stand in a league of their own

Messi's career has been nothing short of phenomenal. From his early days at Barcelona to his current role at Inter Miami, the Rosario-born wizard has consistently demonstrated why he's considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. His ability to change games single-handedly, combined with his incredible vision and technical mastery, makes Solskjaer's assessment particularly compelling.

🌟 Diego Maradona: The Eternal Genius

• Considered one of Serie A's greatest ever players

• Legendary status at Napoli where he achieved icon status

• Also played for Barcelona and Sevilla in Spain

• World Cup winner with Argentina in 1986

• Renowned for ball control and elegance despite smaller stature

Maradona's impact on the game remains unparalleled decades after his peak. Even defensive legends like Paolo Maldini found containing the Argentine maestro to be an immense challenge. Maradona's combination of technical brilliance, creativity, and sheer determination created a player who could indeed carry teams on his back.

Solskjaer's Credibility and Current Success

The Norwegian manager brings considerable credibility to his assessment, having worked with numerous world-class players during his tenure at Manchester United. Between November 2021 and his Besiktas appointment in January 2025, Solskjaer had been away from management, but his return has been remarkably successful. Turkish media has already dubbed him a "tactically talented manager," and his Besiktas side has been performing exceptionally well under his leadership.

Solskjaer's own playing credentials add weight to his opinions. As one of the top 20 foreign goalscorers in Premier League history, he understands what separates good players from truly exceptional ones. His experience managing Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2021/22 campaign, where the Portuguese star featured 73 times under his guidance, makes his exclusion of Ronaldo from this exclusive duo particularly noteworthy.

The Philosophy Behind the Assessment

What makes Solskjaer's perspective so intriguing is his emphasis on players who could theoretically thrive without structured team support. While modern football increasingly emphasizes collective organization and tactical systems, Messi and Maradona represent the pinnacle of individual brilliance that could transcend these constraints. Their ability to create something from nothing, to change games through moments of individual genius, sets them apart in Solskjaer's estimation.

The Modern Football Context

In today's highly tactical and system-driven football environment, Solskjaer's comments serve as a reminder of the enduring value of individual brilliance. While he clearly values teamwork and collective movement—as evidenced by his praise for Steijn and the Besiktas system—his recognition of Messi and Maradona's unique capabilities highlights that certain talents transcend conventional football wisdom.

The fact that Solskjaer, a manager known for his pragmatic approach and team-first philosophy, would identify these two Argentinians as being in a class of their own speaks volumes about their extraordinary abilities. It suggests that while football continues to evolve tactically, the raw, individual genius displayed by players like Messi and Maradona remains the ultimate differentiator at the highest level.

Legacy and Continuing Influence

Even in 2025, with Messi in the twilight of his career at Inter Miami and Maradona's legacy enduring years after his passing, both players continue to influence how we perceive football greatness. Young players still study their movements, coaches still analyze their decision-making, and fans still marvel at highlights of their most magical moments.

Solskjaer's assessment provides a fascinating framework for evaluating football talent—one that prioritizes the ability to transcend team structures and tactical systems through pure individual quality. As the game continues to evolve, his comments serve as a powerful reminder that while football is ultimately a team sport, the most exceptional individuals can rewrite the rules of what's possible on the pitch.

The Besiktas manager's perspective adds an important voice to the ongoing conversation about football greatness, coming from someone who has experienced the game at the highest level both as a player and manager. His unique insight bridges generations of football understanding, making his declaration about Messi and Maradona all the more significant in the contemporary football landscape.