Kobe Bryant dead: When Lakers legend praised Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

NBA legend Kobe Bryant passed away on Sunday night (Monday morning IST) in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, 48 km north-west of Los Angeles. The 41-year-old was travelling on his private chopper along with 8 other people when it went down and a fire broke out, killing Kobe and his daughter. The Lakers legend was a huge football fan and admired Barcelona star Lionel Messi. He also lauded Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best.

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Kobe Bryant dead: The LA Lakers legend was a Lionel Messi fan

Just two weeks back, Kobe Bryant (while speaking to CNN) had commented on Major League Soccer (MLS). He stated that the league had grown big in the past few years. He was also quizzed about his love for LaLiga giants Barcelona and their star Lionel Messi.

Kobe Bryant dead: The NBA legend praised Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Kobe had lauded Lionel Messi as one of the best footballers of all time. He also praised the skills and the intelligence that the Argentine possesses. He stated that Messi was ‘head-and-shoulders’ above other contemporary football stars. The Los Angeles legend did not shy away from praising Juventus star and Lionel Messi’s arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Kobe Bryant dead: Former Lakers star spoke about Barcelona's trouble recently

Kobe Bryant also spoke about the recent troubles at FC Barcelona due to a string of poor performances. He had stated that Barcelona were going through a transition period, courtesy of the recent sacking of manager Ernesto Valverde. However, he was confident of the team’s resurgence.

Also Read | Kobe Bryant dead: NBA and Lakers legend killed in tragic California helicopter crash

Kobe Bryant dominated the game for almost two decades with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won five championships and featured in 18 All-Star Games. The legend announced his retirement following the 2016 season. Kobe Bryant was also one of the favourites to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame set to be announced next month.

Also Read | Basketball legend Kobe Bryant no more: Lionel Messi grieves the death of his close friend