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Jonathan White

Argentina captain and five time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has been declared the greatest of all time in an article and accompanying photoshoot by New York-based fashion magazine Paper ahead of the Fifa World Cup in Russia.
In “Leo Messi is the G.O.A.T.” the Barcelona genius is pictured posing with goats in a number of photographs for the magazine’s sports issue.
The images are shot by Carles Carabi.

The GOAT pic.twitter.com/QecVXXCpvj
— Messi World (@MessiWorId) 4 June 2018

“Thanks to a mix of exceptional talent, determined effort and the desire to constantly improve, Leo Messi has risen to become soccer’s reigning G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time).” Gemma Soler writes.
What time is the World Cup on and where can I watch it in Hong Kong? Your guide to all 64 games at Russia 2018
Messi counters that by suggesting that he is nothing special: “I don’t consider myself the best, I think I am just another player.”
His fans disagree.

The Greatest of All Time graces our Sports issue cover! Get to know the soccer superhuman, Leo #Messi, right in time for the #WorldCup! #PAPERGetsMessi #GOAT #HereToCreate https://t.co/3eD5j2qGP3
— PAPER Magazine (@papermagazine) 4 June 2018

The reaction on social media has been as messy as a barnyard with the millions of fan boys – and haters of Cristiano Ronaldo – seeing this as proof that Messi is officially the best player ever.
Could a Chinese Super League player win the World Cup? Nine of them have been called up for Russia 2018
And supporters of the Portugal and Real Madrid star responding in kind.

Here's the real GOAT. @Omar__cr7_ @Nikilled #GOAT #Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/uKdNnnDQqp
— Ahmed Affan (@affan_ahmed11) 5 June 2018

Whether that is the case, he is certainly ahead of his rival in the goat photoshoot stakes, although it did not take Ronaldo fans long to rectify that.
Bragging rights and spoiling for fights – scorned football fans continue to put the twit in Twitter

Messi, the GOAT, just broke the internet. pic.twitter.com/SE520sl2Nw
— Oh My Goal (@OhMyGoal_US) 4 June 2018

Paper were keen to point out that no animals were harmed in the photoshoot. “Paper worked in tandem with La Granja Natura, a Barcelona farm and educational center, for this shoot,” they wrote.
“Veterinarians and animal handlers were present on set to ensure the safe treatment of the goats and to verify that they were healthy and suffered no harm.”

#messi #goat pic.twitter.com/ZDq47Mgp0z
— 8bit-Football.com (@8bitfootball) June 4, 2018



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Fifa World Cup 2018

World Cup star Leo Messi blows up the internet by posing with a goat for Paper magazine and proving to fans he is the GOAT

Leo Messi poses with goats for Paper magazine's Sports issue. Photos: Twitter/@papermagazine

Sport

Football

Argentine international is declared the greatest of all time by American fashion magazine after eye-catching photoshoot


World Cup star Leo Messi blows up the internet by posing with a goat for Paper magazine and proving to fans he is the GOAT

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Argentine international is declared the greatest of all time by American fashion magazine after eye-catching photoshoot

Argentine international is declared the greatest of all time by American fashion magazine after eye-catching photoshoot