Messi would have won more grand slams than Federer and Nadal combined had he been a Tennis player says Barcelona teammate Rakitic

Lionel Messi has been compared with all the greatest footballers who have ever touched the ball and is often attributed the status of the best football player of all times, a status that challenges even the likes of Pele. However, the living legend is now being compared with the all-time great Tennis great Roger Federer and arguably the best in present times.

Notably, the two Tennis greats have won 20 and 16 grand slams respectively in their career. The two are considered the best of all times and their records unbreakable.

Footballer Ivan Rakitic has made an interesting claim about Messi. He has said had Messi been a Tennis Player, he would have won 50 grand slams. Yes, you need not read that twice, according to the Barcelona midfielder, his legendary teammate would've won more tennis Majors than arguably the two greatest players combined.

"Of course, when you have the best player in the world, you are favourites, although he says they are not. He'd give some titles with Barcelona for that one with Argentina. If Messi had played tennis, he'd have won 50 Grand Slams! But you don't play football by yourself, it is not an individual sport," said Rakitic.

Messi and Rakitic share a special relation as they are teammates and both play for FC Barcelona. Both the players will play for different teams in the upcoming FIFA world cup 2018 in Russia. The two play for Croatia and Argentina. However, Messi has said "I believe so, I have faith in this team," he said. "We have players with talent and experience. We cannot send the message that we are the best, because that's not true. Quite a few squads are better,". Messi has looked realistic yet confident analysing the positives and negatives of his team.

However, there does not seem any practical method to actually determine Messi's fate had he been a Tennis Player.

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